The federal government of Nigeria has initiated criminal proceedings against Binance, a leading cryptocurrency exchange platform and its executives.
The charges, filed at the federal high court in Abuja, were announced on Monday, March 25th, 2024, by the federal inland revenue service (FIRS).
In a statement by special adviser, media to the executive chairman, Dare Adekambi, the lawsuit implicates Binance with a four-count tax evasion accusation.
Joined with the crypto company as second and third defendants in the suit are Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, both senior executives of Binance who are supposedly currently in the custody of the economic and financial crimes commission (EFCC).
Meanwhile, one of the two Binance executives detained in Nigeria for alleged tax evasion and other offences, Nadeem Anjarwalla, has reportedly escaped from police custody.
Various reports suggest the 38-year-old escaped from custody on Friday, March 22nd, 2024, from the Abuja guest house where he and his colleague were being detained after guards on duty allegedly led him to a nearby mosque to observe his religious prayers and keep with his faith, this Ramadan season.
Anjarwalla who holds both Britain and Kenyan citizenship, is believed to have flown out of Abuja using a middle east airliner.
Reacting to the report, a spokesperson for the office of the national security adviser, confirmed the news of the escape saying Anjarwalla may have escaped using a passport that was smuggled to him.
The statement read, “The Office of the National Security Adviser confirms that Nadeem ANJARWALLA, a suspect in the ongoing criminal probe into the activities of Binance in Nigeria has escaped from lawful custody on Friday, March 22, 2024.
“Upon receiving this report, this office took immediate steps, in conjunction with relevant security agencies, MDAs, as well as the international community, to apprehend the suspect. Security agencies are working with Interpol for an international arrest warrant on the suspect.
“Preliminary investigation shows that Mr Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport.”
The spokesman, Zakari Mijinyawa, said those who aided the escape have since been arrested, saying “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” the statement added.
The office of the NSA is seeking information from the public on locating and rearresting Mr. Anjarwalla.
