Binance executive escapes Nigerian custody as authorities file new tax charges

cnbc.com:

One of two Binance executives detained in Nigeria has escaped custody, while the Nigerian government has filed new tax evasion charges against the global cryptocurrency exchange.

Nigeria's Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Monday announced that four new charges relating to tax evasion had been filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, according to multiple local media reports.

Binance faces charges of alleged non-payment of Value-Added Tax (VAT) and company income tax, failure to submit tax returns and complicity in aiding customers to evade taxes through its platform, the reports said.

Alongside the company, two senior executives — U.S. citizen Tigran Gambaryan and British-Kenyan Nadeem Anjarwalla — were both charged and remanded in custody by Nigerian authorities.

Reports emerged over the weekend that Anjarwalla escaped on Friday from the Abuja guest house where the pair was detained.

«We were made aware that Nadeem is no longer in Nigerian custody. Our primary focus remains on the safety of our employees and we are working collaboratively with Nigerian authorities to quickly resolve this issue,» a Binance spokesperson told CNBC.

The country is in talks with Interpol to secure an international arrest warrant for Anjarwalla, Reuters reported, citing Nigeria's national security adviser. The National Security Agency did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment.

The families of the two employees declined to comment at this time, but issued statements on March 20, following a hearing at which Nigerian authorities extended their detainment.

Anjarwalla's wife, Elahe Anjarwalla, said she was «completely heartbroken» that he would not be home in time to celebrate their son's first birthday.

«Nadeem has no