Sodeinde QuadriFormer Assistant Director of the Department of State Services, Dennis Amachree, expressed dismay over the escape of Nadeem Anjarwalla, an executive of Binance, from the custody of the Office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. Amachree conveyed his concerns during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today program.
Anjarwalla reportedly fled from a guest house in Abuja where he and his colleague, Tigran Gambaryan, were being held. According to Premium Times, he managed to escape while guards accompanying him escorted him to a nearby mosque for prayers.
During the interview, Amachree raised questions about the custody arrangements, highlighting that the NSA, primarily an advisory body to the President, should have handed over the detained executives to either the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the DSS for remand, if necessary, pending court appearances.
Expressing skepticism about the existence of a detention facility under the NSA’s jurisdiction, Amachree criticized the decision to keep the suspects in a guest house where they had access to communication devices. He emphasized that individuals flagged as threats should have been placed on a watchlist, with their information shared with relevant agencies like the Nigeria Immigration Service to prevent escape.
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The detention of the Binance executives was part of the government’s crackdown on cryptocurrency exchanges amid efforts to curb speculation on the naira. The charges against Binance included tax-related offenses such as non-payment of Value-Added Tax and Company Income Tax.
Amachree recalled past instances where high-profile individuals were held in secure locations and questioned the circumstances surrounding Anjarwalla’s disappearance. He suggested possible collusion between the fleeing suspect and corrupt security personnel, urging authorities to investigate thoroughly.
While the Office of the National Security Adviser confirmed Anjarwalla’s escape, the Federal Government stated that it was coordinating with Interpol for his re-arrest. Additionally, it initiated a manhunt for the escaped executive and detained the security personnel responsible for his escape.
