In a recent development, a key Binance executive detained in Nigeria on allegations of tax evasion and other charges, Nadeem Anjarwalla, has reportedly escaped custody.
He reportedly managed to flee on Friday, March 22, from a guest house in Abuja where he and a colleague were being held after guards allowed him to visit a nearby mosque for Ramadan prayers.
The dual British-Kenyan citizen is believed to have left Abuja aboard a Middle Eastern airline, raising questions about his departure despite Nigerian authorities holding his British passport.
Efforts are underway to determine Anjarwalla’s destination and facilitate his return to custody.
An Immigration official revealed to journalists that Anjarwalla escaped using a Kenyan passport, sparking inquiries into how he acquired the document given that his British passport was in official custody.
The National Security Adviser’s office, through Zakari Mijinyawa, Head of Strategic Communication, acknowledged the incident but has yet to provide further details.
Anjarwalla, Binance’s Africa regional manager, and Tigran Gambaryan were initially detained upon their arrival in Nigeria on February 26, 2024, leading to a series of legal actions against them and the cryptocurrency exchange.
Following Binance’s non-compliance with a court order demanding data on Nigerian traders, the duo’s detention was extended to prevent evidence tampering.
Charges against Binance and the executives include failure to register for taxes, issue VAT invoices, and aiding subscribers in evading taxes.
Dare Adekanmbi, the spokesman for the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zaccheus Adedeji, made this known in a statement today in Abuja.
Adekambi stated that the decisive move against the platform is aimed at upholding fiscal responsibility and safeguarding the country’s economic integrity.
He said in the suit, the federal government also accused Binance of failure to register with FIRS for tax purposes and contravening existing tax regulations within the country
