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One of the two Binance executives held in Nigeria has reportedly escaped from custody, according to a local media outlet.
Binance is the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume and has faced a rough time in Nigeria over the past several months.
Binance exec escapes from Nigeria
Details on Monday claimed that Nadeem Anjarwalla, a 38-year old UK national who has been in detention in Nigeria, escaped via a Middle-Eastern airline. He allegedly used a fake passport to board the flight on Friday, March 22.
Sources familiar with the development say Anjarwalla made the escape after he was taken to a Mosque for prayers.
Nadeem Anjarwalla, the regional manager for Binance in Africa and his colleague Tigran Gambaryan, head of criminal investigations at Binance, were arrested on February 26. Gambaryan is a US citizen.
The two execs’ detention followed a crackdown on the Binance crypto exchange by the Nigerian government, amid allegations of currency manipulation as the Naira plummeted.
The two officials have been in custody since, with the government demanding the exchange release data on its users from the country. A court in Abuja ordered that Anjarwalla and Gambaryan be held for a further 14 days after Binance refused to comply with the demand.
According to local reports, the government has filed a criminal case against Binance, alleging tax evasion.
Binance has so far not commented on the latest claims and the reported escape.