Following reports that Nadeem Anjarwalla, a detained Binance executive in Nigeria, has escaped from custody, Binance has verified this information to CryptoSlate.

A spokesperson for Binance disclosed:

"We have been informed that Nadeem is no longer in Nigerian custody. Our primary goal remains ensuring the safety of our employees, and we are cooperating with Nigerian authorities to swiftly resolve this situation."

On the other hand, Tigran Gambaryan, the Binance executive and US citizen detained alongside Anjarwalla, remains in the custody of the authorities.

As the situation unfolds, Nigerian authorities have charged Binance Holdings and the detained executives with four counts of tax evasion and complicity in tax fraud. The case is awaiting trial at the Federal High Court.

The details surrounding Anjarwalla's escape reveal that he, holding citizenship from Kenya and the UK, reportedly absconded on March 22 while attending Friday prayers at a mosque in Abuja.

Reports suggest that Anjarwalla utilized a Kenyan passport to board a flight operated by an unspecified Middle Eastern airline. The circumstances of how he acquired this passport, especially when having only his British passport upon detention, remain a puzzle for authorities.

Speculation is rife that Anjarwalla may have orchestrated his escape, utilizing privileges granted during detention, such as access to telecommunication devices.

While official statements from Nigerian authorities are awaited, covert efforts are rumored to be underway to confirm his whereabouts and facilitate his return to custody.

The incident further exacerbates the strained relations between Nigeria and Binance, the leading crypto exchange by trade volume. Allegations of inflating rates to exploit the country's foreign exchange difficulties have strained the partnership, leading to Binance's site being blocked and the detention of executives as they attempted to manage the situation.

Despite a High Court directive for Binance to share Nigerian user data with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the platform has yet to adhere to the request. The detention of the executives has raised international criticism from crypto organizations in the US and Kenya, denouncing the Nigerian government's actions.