According to a local media outlet, one of the two Binance executives who were detained in Nigeria has managed to escape custody. Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, has been facing difficulties in Nigeria for the past few months.
The executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, a 38-year old UK national, reportedly used a fake passport to board a flight on March 22. He allegedly escaped while being taken to a Mosque for prayers. Anjarwalla was arrested along with Tigran Gambaryan, a US citizen and head of criminal investigations at Binance, on February 26.
Their detention came after the Nigerian government launched a crackdown on Binance, accusing the exchange of currency manipulation as the Naira plummeted. The government has demanded that Binance release data on its Nigerian users, but the exchange has refused to comply. As a result, the two executives were ordered to be held for a further 14 days by a court in Abuja.
There are also reports that the Nigerian government has filed a criminal case against Binance for alleged tax evasion. Binance has not yet commented on these claims or the reported escape of Anjarwalla.
