In Nigeria, known as Africa’s largest market for P2P crypto payments, the Binance crisis has evolved into another dimension. On 26 February, two executives of the exchange were detained by security forces for alleged tax evasion and manipulation.

$10 billion fine was not accepted

The government claims that Binance and its executives manipulated the naira, the country’s local currency, through the platform and demanded $10 billion as a fine. Although Binance announced that it was ready to work with the government, it did not agree to pay the fine.

Escaped on his way to Friday prayers

The two executives, Nadeem Anjarwalla and Tigran Gambaryan, have been held in a state guesthouse in the capital Abuja since their arrest on 26 February, but Anjarwalla escaped from the country on Friday (22 March). Anjarwalla reportedly left the guesthouse accompanied by security forces and was taken to a mosque for Friday prayers. It is seen that the Binance executive managed to escape from the country by taking advantage of the gap here.

He left the airport with a Kenyan passport

The information and details coming from the local media are interesting… It is stated that Anjarwalla escaped from the airport with a Kenyan passport. It is also a point of curiosity how the executive obtained this fake passport during the days he was in custody… It was also known that both names were allowed to use their mobile phones while in the guesthouse.

The Nigerian Immigration Service did not provide information on which country the manager had escaped to. However, it is stated that Anjarwalla fled the country using Middle East Airlines. According to a Binance spokesperson told The Block that they are in contact with Nigerian authorities to resolve the issue.