The United States’ Department of State has acknowledged reports regarding the detention of one of its citizens in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. Tigran Gambaryan, an executive at Binance, was arrested last month alongside his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who holds both British and Kenyan passports, in connection with a tax evasion investigation involving the cryptocurrency platform.
A spokesperson for the American Embassy in Nigeria stated, “When a US citizen is detained overseas, the department works to provide all appropriate assistance.” According to reports, the embassy refrained from offering additional comments on the detention, citing privacy considerations.
While Mr. Anjarwalla is no longer in Nigerian custody, with authorities confirming his escape using a smuggled passport, a source close to his family revealed that he left Nigeria through lawful means.
Nigerian authorities have stated that they are collaborating with Interpol to issue an international warrant for Mr. Anjarwalla’s arrest.
On Monday, tax evasion charges were officially filed against Binance at the High Court in Abuja, with Mr. Anjarwalla named among the respondents.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service accuses the cryptocurrency platform of several offences, including non-payment of value-added tax, company income tax, failure to file tax returns, and complicity in assisting customers in evading taxes through its platform.
