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BREAKING: Detained Binance CEO Escapes from Custody in Nigeria After Visiting Mosque for Ramadan
Detained Binance Executive has escaped from custody in Nigeria after visiting a Mosque for Ramadan.
Naijablitznews reports that one of the two Binance executives, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who was held behind bars in Nigeria on suspicious tax evasion and other offences, escaped from detention.
The 38-year-old Anjarwalla broke free from the Abuja guest house on Friday, March 22, where he was being held along with a companion. The guards there had led him to a nearby mosque for prayers in observance of the ongoing Ramadan fast.
The detained Binance Executive, a British citizen, who is also a Kenyan, is thought to have taken a Middle East airliner out of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Although Anjarwalla entered Nigeria using a British passport which was in the possession of Nigerian authorities when he escaped, it is still unclear how he managed to board a foreign flight.
To rearrest him, authorities are reportedly investigating his intended destination.
The report cited an Immigration official who stated that the Binance executive used a Kenyan passport to leave Nigeria. But considering that he was carrying only the British passport and no other travel documents, the official said that police were attempting to ascertain how he got the passport.
The two officials were in a “comfortable guest house,” according to a different source. Numerous privileges were allegedly granted to them, including the ability to use telephones, which Anjarwalla took advantage of to plan his escape.
Newsone recalls that Anjarwalla, the regional manager for Binance in Africa, and Tigran Gambaryan, a US citizen in charge of the cryptocurrency exchange platform’s financial crime compliance, were arrested when they arrived in Nigeria on February 26, 2024.
The two Binanace executives were charged with a crime by the Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Bola Tinubu before an Abuja magistrate court.
Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was permitted by the court on February 28, 2024, to detain the two individuals for 14 days.
The Nigerian government was also required by the court to get data and information about Nigerians who trade on Binance’s platform. The court prolonged the officials’ detention for an extra 14 days to stop them from tampering with the evidence after Binance disobeyed the order. The case between the government and Binance was postponed by the court until 4 April 2024.
Another four-count charge brought by the government against Binance Holdings Limited, Anjarwalla, and Gambaryan alleges that they provided services to users of their platform without registering with the Federal Inland Revenue Service and failing to pay all applicable taxes managed by the service, thereby committing an offence against and punishable under Section 8 of the Value Added Tax Act of 1993 (as Amended).
The Federal government of Nigeria claims that Binance provided taxable services to users of their trading platform but neglected to send them invoices so they could calculate and pay their value-added taxes. By doing this, they violated S.29 of the Value Added Tax Act of 1993 (as modified) and committed an infraction.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has described the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as a major pillar of support for President Bola Tinubu in particular and Nigerians, especially the vulnerable ones in general.
The FCT Minister, in a goodwill message to the First Lady on her 66th birthday, commended her for the transformation of the Abuja City Gate, saying “the roles the First Lady played in transforming the Abuja City Gate into how it is today, is a manifestation of her commitment to the success of her husband’s administration.”
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the Minister also hailed the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative, noting that it has brought succor to several vulnerable Nigerians in the last three years.
Wike said; “At 66, the simple way of life of the First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, CON, has remained an inspiration to women in the country, and it is my prayer that God will continue to uphold her.
“Most importantly, this new age is a confirmation of God’s love for her, and I pray that the good Lord will continue to grant her good health.
“I celebrate and rejoice with our ever caring and development oriented First Lady on the attainment of this significant age in her life and wish her many more years of service to our country, Nigeria.”
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has sacked one of its staff members for allegedly extorting unsuspecting candidates.
The Board made this known on Monday in its bulletin, stating that the action was part of its renewed efforts to eliminate fraudulent practices within the admission and examination system.
According to JAMB, the sanction against the unnamed staff member showed that its fight against exploitation was not limited to external fraudsters but also applied to employees found abusing their positions.
“The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has terminated the appointment of one of its staff members for extorting unsuspecting candidates, in further demonstration of its renewed commitment to flushing out bad eggs from the system,” the board stated.
It further cautioned its employees against engaging in activities capable of undermining its credibility or exploiting candidates and members of the public.
The Board stressed that any staff members found guilty of misconduct would face severe consequences in line with established regulations.
“The Board noted that the action sends a clear and unequivocal message that its zero-tolerance policy on corruption and misconduct applies to everyone, irrespective of status or position,” it added.
The tertiary examination body reiterated that it would not shield any employee who abuses the trust placed in them by candidates or members of the public.
The Senate of the University of Calabar (UniCal) has suspended nine students for one academic session over their involvement in examination misconduct.
According to a statement by the university’s public relations unit and made available in Calabar on Monday, the suspension was conveyed to the affected students in letters signed by the registrar, Chukwuka Icha.
The action, the university said, followed approval by the Senate following recommendations by its Examination Misconduct Committee (SEMC).
“The affected students have been suspended for the 2026/2027 academic session and are expected to resume their studies in the 2027/2028 academic session.
“Five of the affected students are from the Department of Theatre and Media Studies, Faculty of Arts,” it said.
The others are in the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences; the Department of Geology, Faculty of Physical Sciences; the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences; and the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences,” the statement said.
The university directed the acting chief security officer, deans, heads of departments, and other relevant units to take note of the suspension and ensure full compliance with the directive.
(NAN)
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