Nigeria Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made a significant announcement on Monday regarding the case of Nadeem Anjarwalla, a Binance Director who absconded from custody and fled Nigeria after being detained by the Nigerian Government.
Idris assured that efforts to locate Anjarwalla are ongoing, with Interpol actively pursuing him. He emphasized that being associated with an international firm like Binance means there’s nowhere for Anjarwalla to hide.
This statement comes shortly after confirmation from the Office of the National Security Adviser that Anjarwalla, a central figure in the ongoing investigation into Binance’s activities in Nigeria, managed to escape custody on March 22nd, 2024.
Zakari Mijinyawa, the Head of Strategic Communication for the Office of the National Security Adviser, highlighted that collaborative efforts involving relevant security agencies, government bodies, and the international community are in progress to swiftly locate and apprehend the fugitive.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport. Security agencies are coordinating with Interpol to obtain an international arrest warrant for him.
The individuals responsible for Anjarwalla’s custody have been apprehended, and a thorough investigation is underway to understand the circumstances surrounding his escape.
The Nigerian Government and other global counterparts have been probing money laundering and terrorism financing activities on the Binance platform. Anjarwalla, a British and Kenyan national serving as Binance’s Africa regional manager, was undergoing trial in Nigerian courts before his escape while under a 14-day remand order issued by the court. His next court appearance was scheduled for April 4th, 2024.
