The Nigerian government says an executive of the cryptocurrency exchange company Binance who had been in its detention has “escaped.”
The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s Africa regional manager, fled the country on Friday using a “smuggled passport.”
“He was scheduled to appear before the court again on April 4,” spokesperson Zakari Mijinyawa said in a statement on Monday.
Security personnel responsible for the custody of the suspect had been arrested, and the government was working with international law enforcement to arrest Mr Anjarwalla, the statement said.
“We urge the Nigerian public and the international community to provide whatever information they have that can assist law enforcement agencies apprehend the suspect,” it said.
“Tax evasion”
Mr Anjarwalla, 38, escaped the Abuja guest house where he and his colleague were detained on Friday after guards on duty led him to a nearby mosque for prayers, according to Premium Times, which first reported the development on Monday.
Mr Anjarwalla, who holds British and Kenyan passports, was arrested alongside Tigran Gambaryan, an American overseeing financial crime compliance at Binance, after they flew into Nigeria on February 26.
They had held talks with Nigerian officials after the government barred the Binance website on claims the exchange was used for money laundering, terror financing and manipulation of the naira exchange rate. Binance discontinued its naira services afterwards.
The Nigerian government has brought charges against Binance Holdings Limited, and two executives, bordering on tax evasion and failure to register the company in Nigeria.
The government accuses the company of offering services to subscribers in Nigeria, which is one of the world’s largest crypto markets, without registering it with the Federal Inland Revenue Service and paying relevant taxes.
It also says the accused allegedly failed to issue invoices for value-added taxes and neglected to deduct necessary taxes from cryptocurrency transactions.
A court had granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) an order to remand the duo for 14 days, and ordered the firm to provide the government with data on Nigerians trading on its platform.
After the company failed to comply, the court extended the remand for an additional 14 days. The case has been adjourned until April 4.
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