House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the security breach leading to the escape of an executive of Binance, a crypto currency exchange company, Nadeem Anjarwalla, from the custody of the National Security Adviser’s Office.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Dominic Okafor (APGA, Anambra) at plenary, yesterday.
Presenting the motion, Okafor noted that the federal government arrested and detained Anjarwalla for alleged complicity of the company in money laundering and terrorism financing.
The lawmaker noted that two Binance executives were billed to appear in court on April 4, 2024 to answer to the alleged crimes against Nigeria before the security breach occurred which led to the escape of one of the company’s executives in a very scandalous dimension.
He expressed worry that “persons suspected to have committed such atrocious crimes against the State of Nigeria with already over-burdened Security challenges were kept in a guest house in Abuja instead of lawful custody of the Department of State Service or any other approved custodial facility.
“The escape of the Binance executive from the office of the National Security Adviser using a ‘Smuggled Passport’ is, to say the least, most disappointing, embarrassing and disturbing as it portrays the porosity of the security architecture of the country to the world.
“Weeks after the unfortunate escape and inability of the security forces to re-arrest Nadee M Anjarwalla, the Kenyan Police arrested him on 22 April, 2024 as the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) moves to extradite him to Nigeria soon to face the allegation leveled against the company.”
