Binance Executive Orchestrated Complex Departure, Possibly Avoided Flights: Nigerian Official

Binance executive Nadeem Anjarwalla escaped from Nigerian custody in February following his arrest. He was detained alongside American associate Tigran Gambaryan on charges of misconduct associated with the exchange.

In a Sunday interview with a local news outlet, a former Nigerian official described Anjarwalla’s escape as “embarrassing.” He further considered the event as reflective of systemic deficiencies within the nation’s security forces.

Dr. Seyi Adetayo, a retired Principal Staff Officer from the Department of State Services, attributed the security failure to the presence of individuals with potentially fraudulent or criminal motives within the department. He highlighted an urgent need to avert a recurrence of such incidents.

Both executives were detained in Nigeria, and their passports were confiscated during a wider government crackdown on cryptocurrency exchanges. They are currently pursuing legal action against two authorities, claiming violations of their fundamental human rights.

Authorities have accused Binance of failing to comply with local tax laws, citing insufficient documentation. They also alleged that the exchange obstructed their capacity to collect user taxes. Previously, officials claimed that Anjarwalla escaped the country using a “smuggled passport.” However, a family source reportedly countered that his exit was executed through “lawful means.”

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) is reportedly working with Interpol to obtain an international arrest warrant for Anjarwalla.

Binance did not respond to Cryptonews’ request for comment by the time of publication.

Binance Exec May Have Flown Out Under Own Name

Adetayo provided further details on the escape, describing it as a “well-planned operation.” He asserted that it was likely funded and organized by an intelligence asset based in Nigeria. This individual is believed to be connected to either a private contractor or a foreign government intelligence agency, with the intention of facilitating the executive’s exit from the country.

He suspects that Nigerian security personnel might be vulnerable to manipulation through financial incentives or religious influence. Compromising an officer’s loyalty through either means could have enabled control and ultimately facilitated Anjarwalla’s escape, he stated.

The retired official also mentioned that Anjarwalla may have been taken from custody to a mosque before being transported to the airport.

“I have it on authority that he actually purchased the ticket he used to fly from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport on that same day,” he stated. “For him to make such a seamless movement, someone must have orchestrated it, working out the details to ensure that he passed through the airport using the same name without detection.”

Watchlist Fail and Security Lapses Blamed

He expressed concerns regarding possible deficiencies in security protocols. He also suggested that Anjarwalla’s name might not have been included on a departure watchlist. This oversight could have allowed his escape on a less strictly monitored airline.

He further criticized the ONSA, implying a failure in its duty to ensure secure detention. Even without a watchlist entry, the official contended that airport personnel should have been made aware of the situation and familiar with Anjarwalla’s identity.

“In the last 10 years, the quality of personnel we are recruiting into our agencies leaves much to be desired,” he remarked. “Many individuals have infiltrated the agencies.”

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