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March 26, 2024 Binance Chief Escapes Federal Government Grip, INTERPPOL Contacted

Binance Chief Escapes Federal Government Grip, INTERPPOL Contacted

Hours after the Federal Inland Revenue Service; FIRS announced that it had taken Binance to court over tax evasion, news has emanating from the office of the National Security Adviser confirms that Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Binance executive had escaped from custody and is nowhere to be found.

The Federal Government  had to contact the International Criminal Police Organisation and issued an arrest warrant for the apprehension Nadeem Anjarwalla, who had used a Kenyan passport to escape, while his colleague was still in custody.

The escapee Binance official, who has British and Kenyan nationalities, escaped from Abuja through a Middle East airliner, as his firm in Nigeria confirmed that Anjarwalla was no longer in the country, adding that the company would cooperate with security agencies.

The escape shocked security agencies, as they revealed that the fleeing executive was kept in a ‘safe house’ guarded by soldiers, adding that the security guards on duty had been detained.

The Office of the National Security Adviser confirmed the escape of Anjarwalla in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the Head of its Strategic Communication, Zakari Mijinyawa, who stated that preliminary investigation showed that the escapee fled Nigeria using a smuggled international passport.

He noted that efforts were ongoing to arrest the suspect.

The statement read, “The Office of the National Security Adviser confirms that Nadeem Anjarwalla, a suspect in the ongoing criminal probe into the activities of Binance in Nigeria, has escaped from lawful custody on Friday, March 22, 2024.

Upon receiving this report, this office took immediate steps, in conjunction with relevant security agencies, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, as well as the international community, to apprehend the suspect.

“Security agencies are working with Interpol for an international arrest warrant on the suspect. Preliminary investigation shows that Mr Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport.”

Mijinyawa noted that the personnel responsible for the custody of Anjarwalla had been arrested, adding that investigations were ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding his escape.

March 25, 2024 Investigate Sheik Gumi’s Link to Terrorists and Bandits – CSOs

Investigate Sheik Gumi’s Link to Terrorists and Bandits – CSOs

Civil society Organizations under the aegis of Rising-Up for a United Nigeria (RUN), have called for the immediate profiling and arrest of Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, by the Department of State Security (DSS) for his apparent connections with terrorist groups.

In a statement on Sunday, the group emphasized that Sheikh Gumi’s consistent defense of bandits and terrorists, coupled with his willingness to negotiate on their behalf, challenges the rule of law and compromises national security.

The statement, signed by Amb. Solomon Adodo and Mallam Suleiman Musa, the Convener and Secretary of RUN respectively, expressed grave concerns over the cleric’s actions and rhetoric.

It partly reads, “It is alarming that Sheikh Gumi only raises his voice in favor of these bandits whenever they commit their heinous acts. His interactions suggest he’s not just a sympathizer but a significant participant in their operations.

“His defiance and offer to act as an intermediary for terrorists, especially after the abduction of over 280 schoolchildren from Kuriga, shows his true colors. This type of behavior cannot be tolerated under the new administration.”

The group went further to criticize Gumi’s recent comments comparing the Niger Delta situation to the North’s banditry crisis, where he suggested that bandits should be offered similar deals to those given to Niger Delta militants to secure pipelines.

RUN described these statements as tantamount to declaring war on the Nigerian state.

“There’s a thin line between negotiation and complicity. If Gumi is suggesting we reward criminal behavior with contracts, what message are we sending to the law-abiding citizens of Nigeria?” the group queried.

RUN’s call also extended to the Defense Headquarters, urging them to preserve the nation’s territorial integrity by considering Gumi’s arrest.

The group argued that his activities align with those of someone coordinating bandit operations for personal gain.

March 25, 2024 Federal Government Fights Binance in Court

Federal Government Fights Binance in Court

The Federal Government has initiated legal proceedings against the cryptocurrency exchange giant; Binance, over tax evasion.

The charges were filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

In the suit with number: FHC/ABJ/CR/115/2024, FIRS implicated Binance with four tax evasion accusations adding that it was a decisive move aimed at upholding fiscal responsibility and safeguarding the economic integrity of the country.

Joined with the crypto company as second and third defendants in the suit are Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, both senior executives of Binance currently under the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The charges levied against Binance include non-payment of Value-Added Tax, Company Income Tax, failure to file tax returns, and complicity in aiding customers to evade taxes through its platform.

In the suit, the Federal Government also accused Binance of failure to register with FIRS for tax purposes and contravening existing tax regulations within the country.

One of the counts in the lawsuit pertains to Binance’s alleged failure to collect and remit various categories of taxes to the federation as stipulated by Section 40 of the FIRS Establishment Act 2007 as amended.
Section 40 of the Act explicitly addresses the non-deduction and non-remittance of taxes, prescribing penalties and potential imprisonment for defaulting entities.

The charges further detail specific instances where Binance purportedly violated tax laws, such as failing to issue invoices for VAT purposes, thus obstructing the determination and payment of taxes by subscribers.

Any company that transacts business in excess of N25 million annually is deemed by the Finance Act to be present in Nigeria.

“According to this rule, Binance falls into that category. So, it has to pay taxes like Company Income Tax (CIT) and also collect and pay Value Added Tax (VAT).

“But Binance did not do this properly. So, the company broke Nigerian laws and could be investigated and taken to court for this infraction,” Adekanmbi said.

FIRS, by the law setting it up and various others, is empowered to assess, collect and account for revenue accruing to the Federation and administer relevant tax laws.

Binance pleaded guilty to flouting anti-money laundering laws in the United States in late 2023, settling for a plea bargain that cost the company $ 4.3 billion.

March 25, 2024 Police Nab Cultists with 155 Live Rounds in Osun

Police Nab Cultists with 155 Live Rounds in Osun

The Osun State Police Command arrested six suspected cultist with 155 rounds of 9mm live ammunition.

The suspects were arrested at Ipetu-Ijesa, motor park, Oriade local government area of Osun state while attempting to board a public transport out of the town.

It was gathered that the suspects got to the park in groups and park operators suspected their move, hence, alerted police authority in the town.

Four cut to size locally made pistol were also found in their possession.

Osun police command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola while confirming the arrest on Sunday, said the suspect confessed to being members of ‘eiye’ confraternity from Ilorin, Kwara state.

According to her, the suspects disclosed that they were heading to Delta State for cultism operation before they were caught.

Her words, “We recieved information that some hoodlums suspected to be the men of under world were sighted in Ipetu-Ijesa motor park. A police team moved to the motor park and apprehended the six suspects.

“Meanwhile four cut to size locally made pistols with 155 rounds of live 9mm ammunition were recovered from the suspect.

“The suspects confessed to being members of eiye confraternity from Ilorin town, Kwara state and heading to Delta state for cultism operation.”

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