The Federal Government is now in talks with the International Criminal Police Organisation, INTERPOL, for the re-arrest of fleeing Binance executive,
The Federal Government is now in talks with the International Criminal Police Organisation, INTERPOL, for the re-arrest of fleeing Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who escaped from Nigerian custody.
It also said it had begun a manhunt for the Binance executive and had arrested security personnel under whose watch he escaped.
38-year-old Anjarwalla, a suspect in an ongoing probe into Binance’s activities in Nigeria, had been detained for tax evasion and other offences.
The Federal government on Thursday, March 21, convicted him of a four-count criminal charge.
However, on Friday, March 22, Anjarwalla escaped from the Abuja guest house, where he and a colleague were detained after guards on duty led him to a nearby mosque for prayers in the spirit of the ongoing Ramadan fast.
“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,” read a statement from the Office of the National Security Adviser on Monday, March 25.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said the Federal Government has begun a manhunt for the fleeing executive, affirming that Anjarwalla’s escape would not affect the payment of $10 billion fines for money laundering.
Recall that the Federal High Court in Abuja, on March 22, granted requests by Binance to pay the sum of $4.3 billion in ‘Settlement For Anti-Money Laundering Sanctions, Violations’
“Yes, the man has escaped from our custody, and there is now a manhunt on him. Those who were charged with his custody have been arrested and will be brought to book,” Idris said.
Also speaking on the matter, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Zacch Adedeji, said the escape does not mean Binance will get away with the $10 billion fine for money laundering.
According to Adedeji, the Federal Government is dealing with the company.
“We are dealing with the company and not individuals, and we can enforce compliance with our laws.
“So, whether he escapes or not, that will not in any way affect our plans to enforce compliance as we can ensure that the organization complies with our legal requirements as a country,” he stated.
