FG arrests officer responsible for custody of escaped Binance executive, launches manhunt

The Office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday confirmed that one of the detained executives of Binance, Nadeem Anjarwalla, escaped from custody.

NSA also revealed that the officer who was responsible for the custody of the escaped Binance executive has been arrested for questioning.

According to a press statement signed by Zakari U. Mijinyawa, Head of Strategic Communication, Office of the NSA, on Monday, the suspect flew out of the country with a smuggled passport.

Gistreel had previously reported that Mr. Anjarwalla, who is 38 years old, managed to escape while security guards took him to a nearby mosque for prayers during the ongoing Ramadan fast.

The NSA Office went on to say that after being briefed on what had happened, it took urgent action to apprehend the suspect, working with relevant security agencies, MDAs, and the international community.

It added that security services are working with Interpol to get an international arrest warrant for the suspect.

The statement continued: “The personnel responsible for the custody of the suspect have been arrested, and a thorough investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances that led to his escape from lawful detention. 

“Recall that the Federal Government of Nigeria, like other governments around the world, has been investigating money laundering and terrorism financing transactions perpetrated on the Binance currency exchange platform.

“Until his escape, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who holds British and Kenyan nationalities and serving as Binance’s Africa regional manager, was being tried by Nigerian courts. The suspect escaped while under a 14-day remand order by a court in Nigeria. He was scheduled to appear before the court again on 4 April 2024.

“We urge the Nigerian public and the international community to provide whatever information they have that can assist law enforcement agencies to apprehend the suspect.”