Whistleblowers, whose actions prompted the summoning, detention, and ongoing trial of an executive from Binance Holdings Limited, have voiced concerns about threats to their lives and their families’ safety.
They have called on the Federal Government to provide them with state protection.
Identified as members of the Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative and Niger Delta Youth Council, they assert in a letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, dated March 28th, 2024, that they were the ones who uncovered the egregious abuse of the Nigerian financial system by Binance Holdings Limited.
The letter was jointly signed by Amb. Solomon Adodo, the National Coordinator of Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative, and Engr. Jātor Abido, the National Coordinator of Niger Delta Youth Council.
The letter reads in part: “We write as the petitioners and whistleblowers that revealed the brazen abuse of the Nigerian Financial system being perpetrated by Binance Holdings Limited to notify you of the present threat to our lives and seek protection from the State through your express Presidential directive.
“We are presently in deep shock and panic as to how the detainee managed to escape without a trace.
“We are also aware that the Binance Team have a very significant financial war chest which we can never match.
“Our fears also stem from the fact that we blew the lid on the terrorism financing/serious operations carried out through the Binance platform.
“We are therefore at very significant risk alongside our immediate families.
“We have no where else to run to than to the Nigerian government for whom we undertook this daring patriotic task.”
They added: “It should be recalled that after years of scrupulous investigation and fact finding on the operations of Binance in Nigeria, we identified certain grave infractions perpetrated against the Nigerian government and her people.
“On the heels of our incontrovertible findings, we sent a petition to the House (of Representatives) Committee on Financial Crimes against Binance.
“This petition was submitted on 5th December, 2023 by the Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative, Niger Delta Youth Council and 21 other Civil Society Organisations over irregularities perpetrated by Binance Holdings Limited.
“The said petition listed some of the irregularities perpetrated by Binance to include: Violation of the Provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“Violation of the provisions of the Investments and Securities Act, 2007 and the Rules on Issuance, Offering Platforms and Custody of Digital Assets (the “Digital Assets Rules”), May 2022.
“Violation of the relevant provisions of Nigeria’s tax laws, resulting in taxevasion in the country.
“The House Committee on Financial Crimes immediately commenced action by inviting Binance to appear and give clarifications on the allegations.
“Consequently, the Binance Team honoured the summon and came into Nigeria for the first public hearing billed for 10th January 2024.
“The Investigative Hearings of the House led to the unearthing of huge financial transactions that have been carried out on the Binance platform without appropriate tax payments or any form of regulation.
“The Office of the National Security Adviser also commenced an investigation on Binance thereafter. Subsequently two of the Binance Executives – Nadeem Anjarwalla and Tigran Gambaryan – were invited and detained.
“However, one of the detainees – Nadeem Anjarwalla – escaped from the NSA’s custody since Friday 22nd March 2024.
“We therefore use this medium to call on you to exercise the powers of the State to grant us and our immediate families the security and other forms of protection we require (within and outside Nigeria) till the conclusive outcome of the Binance case as we face very grave danger with our lives at risk.
“We have firm confidence that you will grant this our prayer considering our sacrifice thus far.
“We convey assurances of our highest regards and fervid support for your good government.”
