Update 11:30 am UTC: Binance Official Escapes Detention with Fake Passport
In a surprising turn of events, an executive from Binance, who was detained by Nigerian authorities, has reportedly managed to escape using a counterfeit passport, according to sources familiar with the situation.
This development comes amidst reports that the Nigerian government has initiated criminal proceedings against the exchange for tax evasion. The charges were officially filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, as reported by local media.
Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Binance executive, and his colleague Tigran Gambaryan had been held in custody at a guest house in Abuja for several weeks. However, Anjarwalla successfully fled detention on Friday, March 22nd, when he was taken for prayers at a nearby mosque.
Anjarwalla is said to have left Abuja on a Middle Eastern airline, but the details of how he managed to board the international flight remain unclear. His British passport, which he used to enter Nigeria, is still in the possession of Nigerian authorities.
Immigration officials have stated that Anjarwalla used a Kenyan passport to leave Nigeria, and they are currently investigating how he obtained it, as he had no other travel documents while in custody.
Reports suggest that both Anjarwalla and Gambaryan were granted certain privileges during their detention, including the use of cell phones.
Anjarwalla, who serves as Binance’s regional manager for Africa, and Gambaryan, a US citizen who heads Binance’s criminal investigations team, were arrested upon their arrival in Nigeria on February 26th. Their detention followed a criminal complaint filed against them at a magistrate court in Abuja.
Binance was ordered by the court to provide the Nigerian government with access to data and information regarding Nigerian traders on its platform. However, the exchange refused to comply with this decision, leading to an extension of the officials’ detention for an additional 14 days to prevent evidence tampering.
The Nigerian government has been cracking down on individuals and organizations involved in terrorist financing and money laundering associated with the Binance crypto exchange. Government reports claim that nearly $21 billion has been laundered through the Binance platform.
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