March 25, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has confirmed the escape of Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Binance regional manager for Africa, from lawful custody.
A statement from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), however, said the personnel responsible for the custody of Anjarwalla has been arrested while a thorough investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances that led to his escape from lawful detention.
THEWILL earlier reported that Anjarwalla escaped on Friday, March 22, from the Abuja guest house where he and his colleague, Tigran Gambaryan, a US citizen overseeing financial crime compliance at the crypto exchange platform were detained after guards on duty led him to a nearby mosque for prayers in the spirit of the ongoing Ramadan fast.
The 38-year-old Briton, who also has Kenyan citizenship, fled Nigeria on a Kenyan passport, THEWILL gathered.
A statement issued on Monday by the Head of strategic communication at ONSA, Zakari Mijinyawa, said “Preliminary investigation shows that Mr Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport.”
“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”, the statement added
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), had on March 22, filed a four-count criminal tax-related charges against Binance, Anjarwalla and Gambaryan.