Nadeem Anjarwalla, one of th e two Binance executives detained in Nigeria for alleged tax evasion and other offences, has escaped from lawful custody, those familiar with the matter have told PREMIUM TIMES.
Our sources said Mr Anjarwalla, 38, escaped on Friday, 22 March, from the Abuja guest house where he and his colleague were detained after guards on duty led him to a nearby mosque for prayers in the spirit of the ongoing Ramadan fast.
The Briton, who also has Kenyan citizenship, is believed to have flown out of Abuja using a Middle East airliner. It remains unclear how Mr Anjarwalla got on an international flight despite his British passport, with which he entered Nigeria, remaining in the custody of the Nigerian authorities.
Mr Anjarwalla escaped a day after the Nigerian government slammed a four-count criminal charge on him, Tigran Gambaryan and Binance.
Authorities are also said to be working to unravel his intended destination in a bid to get him back into custody.
An Immigration official said the Binance executive fled Nigeria on a Kenyan passport. He, however, said authorities were trying to determine how he obtained the passport, given that he had no other travel document (apart from the British passport) on him when he was taken into custody.
Another source said the two officials were held at a “comfortable guest house” and allowed many rights, including the use of telephones, a privilege Mr Anjarwalla is believed to have exploited to plot an escape.
When contacted Sunday night on the escape of the Binance executive from detention, the Head of Strategic Communication at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, said he would enquire and revert. He has yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.
Mr Anjarwalla, Binance’s Africa regional manager, and Tigran Gambaryan, a US citizen overseeing financial crime compliance at the crypto exchange platform, were detained upon their arrival in Nigeria on 26 February 2024.
A criminal charge was filed against the two executives before a Magistrate Court in Abuja. On 28 February 2024, the court granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) an order to remand the duo for 14 days. The court also ordered Binance to provide the Nigerian government with the data/information of Nigerians trading on its platform.
Following Binance’s refusal to comply with the order, the court extended the remand of the officials for an additional 14 days to prevent them from tampering with evidence. The court then adjourned the case till 4 April 2024.
Also on 22 March, the Nigerian government approached the Federal High Court in Abuja and slammed another four-count charge on Binance Holdings Limited, Mr Anjarwalla and Mr Gambaryan, accusing them of offering services to subscribers on their platform while failing to register with the Federal Inland Revenue Service to pay all relevant taxes administered by the Service and in so doing, committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 8 of the Value Added Tax Act of 1993 (as Amended).
The defendants were also accused of offering taxable services to subscribers on their trading platform while failing to issue invoices to those subscribers to determine and pay their value-added taxes and, in so doing, committed an offence contrary to and punishable under S.29 of the Value Added Tax Act of 1993 (as amended).
Count Three of the charges accused the three defendants of offering services to subscribers on their Binance trading platform for the buying and selling of cryptocurrencies and the remittance and transfer of those assets while failing to deduct the necessary Value Added Taxes arising from their operations and thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 40 of the Federal Inland Revenue Service Establishment Act 2007 (as amended).
The last count of the charges wants the defendants punished for allegedly aiding and abetting subscribers on their Binance trading platform to unlawfully refuse to pay taxes or neglect to pay those taxes and, in so doing, committing an offence contrary to and punishable under the provisions of S.94 of the Companies Income Tax Act (as amended).
The Nigerian government had, in the past three months, been cracking down on suspected money launderers and terrorism financiers, some of whom it alleged are using the Binance platform for criminal activities
The Nigerian government said over $21.6 billion was traded by Nigerians whose identities were concealed by Binance.
The government also claimed its investigations revealed that unscrupulous elements were using Binance for money laundering, terrorist financing, currency speculation and market manipulation, distorting the Nigerian economy and weakening the Naira against other currencies
The detention of Binance officials in Nigeria began months after the crypto exchange platform pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $4.3 billion to settle criminal money laundering charges levied by the US Department of Justice.
NairaOcean: In a heart-stopping act of bravery, a young boy from Nigeria took on a deadly cobra to protect his family. The courageous child, whose identity remains anonymous, sprang into action when he noticed a venomous cobra lurking among a stack of blocks near his home.
The incident unfolded outside his residence, where the boy spotted the dangerous snake while playing outside with his siblings. Without hesitation, he realized the imminent danger to his family and quickly devised a plan.
Armed with nothing but his wits and determination, the fearless boy carefully approached the cobra, keeping his calm despite the life-threatening situation. With steady hands, he managed to capture the snake and secure it, preventing any harm from coming to his mother and younger siblings.
How many able-bodied men would be willing or able to do?
Caaz: At least they ate to their fill instead of wasting money getting them meatpie n fanta as lunch.
I knew they'll still demand for food after returning from school. At least I will be rest assured that,there will still be food at home for them to eat.
Wisdom will not kill me.
These are even more beneficial to the body than meat pie.
And whose image are they promoting with the video? U are right! The governor's image and nobody cares about the others in the video. Again, what happens after the show-off? The almajiri returns to the bolla(waste dump) for food and the governor to his life of luxury after the camera stops rolling.
We must see beyond the camera especially when it involves Nigerian politicians.
NairaOcean: In the midst of an intense heatwave, a group of apprentices at a local sewing workshop have found themselves a task to keep their madam cool. She has instructed her apprentices to take up the unconventional task of fanning her with hand fans while she sews.
Does the seamstress have the right to order her apprentices to fan her in the workshop?
EmekaStanley: Lately I have been seeing lots of parrots videos on my fyp on TikTok, especially the talking ones. I found it so cute and amazing.
This afternoon on my way back to the office, I saw a guy selling these parrots, na so I call am, bought the parrots, 2-in-1 for that matter.
Getting to the office, as a new and first time pet owner, I was excited.
I noticed that if I tried to to get close to the parrots via the cage, they turned their backs especially the smaller one.
I didn't know what prompted me to try bringing the birds out from the cage with my hands, one of the birds grabbed my finger with it's beak and bit me real hard.
It gave a cut that bled more than I'll ever imagine.
Long story short, I just told my office assistant to carry the birds to her house. I no do pet owner again.
Imagine if this had bitten any of my kids.
Same day I owned a pet, same day I became petless.
ES
These are not parrot but they are called Love Bird. Yes, they bite hard too. You must buy them in twos cos if one dies, the other dies. They don't live alone.
GistMedia0: The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has launched a search for a young woman after a disturbing video surfaced on social media showing her smoking shisha and blowing smoke onto her infant child. The video has sparked outrage and concern among citizens and authorities alike.
The DSVA has condemned the act as a clear case of child endangerment and abuse, emphasizing the dangerous health implications of exposing a child to such toxic substances.
NairaOcean: A Nigerian man has sparked controversy after posting a video online of his girlfriend confessing to cheating on him. The video, which has since gone viral, shows the woman tearfully admitting to her infidelity while her boyfriend films the entire confession.
The incident, which took place in an undisclosed location in Nigeria, has drawn widespread attention on social media platforms. In the video, the man can be heard questioning his girlfriend about her actions, to which she responds with a candid admission of her cheating.
"I'm sorry, I made a mistake," the woman is heard saying in the video, her voice trembling with emotion. "I didn't mean to hurt you, but I cheated on you."
The man behind the camera continues to press her for details, asking when and how many times she cheated. The girlfriend, clearly distressed, provides vague answers as she struggles to explain herself.
I’m the only bachelor in my neighborhood, three rented apartments. I’m in between two families, they both have three three kids each, they are all very nice people, they rendered assistance to me in any slightest opportunity that presents itself, they pack my washed clothes under the sun fold it and well arranged before I returned home. They always sweep my surroundings, when they are doing theirs.
One of them, her husband is not always around. He goes and comes once in a while, she will always like to engage me in conversation any little chance she finds me outside, knowing fully well that she is a married woman, I don’t give room for such familiarity, she always offer me food by giving it to her children to give to me. (Make I no lie I need the food cus I no fit cook) I’ll also get things for her children too.
I noticed her getting me food was getting too frequent, I started given her attitude and being very official with her, and she took caution.
The other lady is here with her husband, she will join me in my car if I’m going out maybe coincidentally. It happened she was going to my direction, also, there was a faithful day I left my apartment keys at a barbershop in front of my estate, I came back that evening looking for this barber guy his number was not connecting, I went to my neighbor's house to ask her if he knew where I can find this guy, the man was not in the house, the wife came out that she will lead me to the guys house, and me I don’t know where the guys lives.
On our way going the husband was coming back home, he saw us walking in the street of the estate, he confronted us and we told him, just yesterday I came back at about 11:30pm when this woman with her husband here came knocking at my door that her husband is accusing her of having an affair with me, that he threatened to send her parking if she dares disclose the information to me and it happened that I’m close to the husband, we both discuss about politics a lot, the other neighbor who’s husband is not always around also came out, I had to confront the husband why dragging me into ur family issues did u seen me on top ur wife, why this allegation? He said is his family issue that he will take care of it.
A this point, I’m considering taking a legal action against him for character assassination, did I do wrong for given my Neiboure’s mwife a lift Or asking for where I can locate the barber guy? I’m guilty of this)? The husband has the right to suspect, but since nothing going on between me and his wife what I’m supposed to do, should I proceed with the legal action?
Matured advice please.
Why did she come to tell you about her husband allegation despite being warned by her husband? Smile. I want to believe you have nothing to do with her, but she might be interested in you and you can't blame the husband if he noticed some strange move from his wife. Plus, I believe there are some lines she crossed with you which she shouldn't have crossed as a married woman. Just ignore the accusations if you are not guilty and talk calmly with the husband and reassuring him of your no interest in her. You might not be the problem here but the wife is, with history of waywardness that you can't tell. Some women are very manipulative and don't get played by getting yourself involve in their family affair.
TugOfWar: Good morning nairalanders, my elder brother has been complaining of tooth ache (molar tooth) since 10 years ago. He has tried all medical and herbal ways to cure it but to no avail. The ache will go today and will double while coming back. There happens to be a small hole in the affected tooth. The ache comes with a serious pain they will make him restless for days.
I am suggesting a tooth removal for him Pls how much does it cost to remove and replace a tooth in Nigeria now I need urgent answers pls.
doctore212: There is this beautiful Olosho in Ketu.
I carry my school fees then 250k give am make she open saloon.
initially, I got free kpekus once I demand for it , but after five months , she no gree free me again , that was when I found out that one bobo was shining her Congo.
The worst thing be say I get plenty carry over that semester.
Although she still chat me once in awhile, I still dey para.
Abeg watin Una dey chat about? I am sure say she still dey use style bill u
doctore212: There is this beautiful Olosho in Ketu.
I carry my school fees then 250k give am make she open saloon.
initially, I got free kpekus once I demand for it , but after five months , she no gree free me again , that was when I found out that one bobo was shining her Congo.
The worst thing be say I get plenty carry over that semester.
Although she still chat me once in awhile, I still dey para.
Abeg watin Una dey chat about? I am sure say she still use style bill u
EreluRoz: There's this very nice married senior colleague of mine who is having a very messy marital life, my other colleague hinted me about it and I actually got close to him and eventually gets him to pour out his heart to me.
According to him, he got married at early 40s to his very young wife as at then who was 19years. Infact he said his mother-in-law never approved of their marriage but his wife insisted and with the support of the father-in-law they got married. However after their first child, he enrolled the wife in a university to further her studies as she married him as a secondary school dropout. That was the beginning of his chaos, that was the beginning of seefinish according to him, that was the beginning of nightmares in his home.
It started by getting reports from people who knows him(he's rich and popular in his home town) about his wife's wayward lifestyle with lecturers and administrative staff, so many nasty reports and how she throws herself at some of these people which many people never believed she was married. Eventually she graduated and came back home, he never confronted her because he really loved her, so he let everything slide. She got pregnant for their second child and when she was due for delivery she had an accident that almost claimed her life, fortunately she was saved and her baby survived as well but unfortunately she won't be able to have more children. She started complaining about everything and how this man has reduced her beauty and even reporting him to his friend about everything happening in their home. The friend always advise him to send her away but he couldn't do it for the sake of his children.
So she advanced by telling this man that they should no longer welcome visitors in their home, family members are not welcomed as well and if you want to see him, he will give you a location to meet him but definitely not his house. This man became a shadow of himself that he refused family interference as well.
He told me she dresses provocatively and goes out and comes back at will. Then he decided to hack her WhatsApp and what he saw was a mess that he couldn't ever imagine in his life. This woman sends her nude and indulge in sex videos with different kind of men, some are way younger than her and all other sorts of dirty activities.
Having discovered all these things about his wife, he still has not summoned the courage to chase her out, she even goes to her room and lock herself to do nude videos to send to different men but he's still saying whenever he wants to chase her away he thinks about his kids and won't be able to do so.
The recent one she's doing is planning to relocate abroad to meet one of her lovers and she's already processing visa and even threatening the man that soon she'll leave him to go enjoy her life. As it stands now, they are just living together and don't talk to each other or even cook for him. She threatened the man that she'll kill him if he dares stand against her plans and he has gone to the police station to make report concerning this.
He asked me what I think he should do and I told him it's quite a pathetic story that will need the advise of an experienced person, I actually played smart on him because I was told he doesn't take advise and that he has been advised severally to end the marriage with her but he always have no courage doing that. This man has developed blood pressure due to all he's facing from his wife.
What grip could this woman be having on him?
What is the best way out for him and if the wife's relocation eventually fails, should this man continue to live with this woman?
He obviously need help but unfortunately he has chased his family away and stopped friends from getting close, how would you help this kind of man who unfortunately found himself in this deep mess?
I know there is more to that story but he should cut funding to her and he should find a mature lover for himself and learn to seriously cut attention to that woman.
WhiteRuler: I mean by the grace of God, I have been making such amount per month and sometimes more, but can I shock you? I'm always broke! That money, if it comes in bulk does not stay more than 5 days in my account before the account balance returns to what looks like a radio station frequency (92.5, 93.7 etc). Lol.
Abeg anybody else in my shoes? I don't drink, smoke or womanize or even spend money on unnecesary things. The cost of living in the country is just EXTREMELY high, which is the main thing that finishes the money in no time.
As things are now, making millions is the only way out but how I go reach there?
Which hustles I fit add to the one I'm doing now?
On the flip side, I believe successful governments especially the present one have been very intentional about subjecting the citizens into poverty the more for political gains.
My point
With the level of hunger, starvation and frustration going on in the country, people would be begging for any amount to vote during election, the political gains.
May God help us.
Bro, nothing is wrong with you. It easier for people that depends on others to condemn you cos they don't know the prices of things given to them, na the person wey dey pay bill go understand u. I earn almost times 2 and I am broke right now and month never end. Though I have a family(4 dependant). I don't smoke nor drink, where I wan see money womanize sef. And my wife dey complain about the amount she contributes in filling gas. My only crime be sat I buy land wey I still dey pay small. But the truth is, the economy is messed up.
Cindypresh: Tinupoo where is Betta edu?? You think we will forget?
You've failed to perform and you want to distract us with Tunde ojo appraisal? Allow the young man do what he's being paid with tax payers money to do.
You should fix yourself too
Some people are suppose to be treated as outcast, they mean no well for this country. They never pray well for this country and vow never to see anything good done by anybody, forgetting that when it is well for the country, it is well for them too.
richiemcgold: ...but all these years, these same people (including Falana) have been advocating full implementation of oronsaye's report. Why kicking against it now that you're about to get it implemented?
Nigerian activists are the most confused in the world, walahi.
But he has a point na and that is what should matter.
Mikuni: When I look at the married men around me, I no longer see the need of having a wife.
I discovered something shocking, a few months ago:
Most men die before their wives, and most likely before their children finish university education. Look at your dad's friends, how many of them are still alive to enjoy the fruits of their parental labour?
Before marriage, you go through a lot of stress in choosing the right woman (God help you, if she's not greedy and demanding) you spend a fortune on marriage, only to be 'eating' one type of food till you die. If you're not careful, you go beg for sex tire. You think I'm lying? Ask my neighbor who begs to put the tip of his toothpick inside his wife for just a minute.
Now, you're married, you must provide for the rent, bills, school fees, in-law expenses etc You must not forget to keep extra savings for health issues for cases like complications in child delivery, antenatal care, naming ceremony, baby materials, clothings etc
If you're unlucky to find yourself in financial difficulty after marriage, pray your wife is the understanding type, else you'd deal with a nagging woman, the type King Solomon told us to avoid staying in the same house with, and rather hide on your rooftop.
If your woman is easily driven to anger, and not rational in thinking, you're in serious trouble. You may end up being stabbed or poisoned. A lot of men have died this way.
So dear men, why waste your time and money? Be smart!
I leave you with this Bible passage: "Wealth and riches are inherited from parents, but a good wife comes only from the Lord."
I understand your opinion but I think you went extreme. You embodied all the bad deeds in a marriage into your fictional marriage. I agree marriage have ups n down but there are a lot of benefits in it too. Eating fruit of our labour is not as important as seeing your children happy during n after your life. The joy of becoming a good father replaces whatever the mother deeds is in most marriages (I know there are exceptions).
I pray we put God first when in search of a life partner and when also in the marriage as He makes the burden lighter and the journey easier.
Crime › Re: Detained Binance Executive Escapes From Custody In Nigeria by albert2512(op): 8:57am On Mar 25, 2024
e two Binance executives detained in Nigeria for alleged tax evasion and other offences, has escaped from lawful custody, those familiar with the matter have told PREMIUM TIMES.
Or asking for where I can locate the barber guy? I’m guilty of this)? The husband has the right to suspect, but since nothing going on between me and his wife what I’m supposed to do, should I proceed with the legal action?