The Kenya Police Service has arrested Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, following his attempt to flee from Nigeria, and he is set to be extradited to Nigeria within the week by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL).
Government sources familiar with the case, who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly, confirmed the arrest to our correspondent on Sunday night.
According to one of the sources, “Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, has been arrested by the Kenya Police Service, and he would be extradited to Nigeria this week by INTERPOL.”
Another source added, “As previously indicated, Anjarwalla will be extradited; he has been apprehended in Kenya and will be extradited to Nigeria this week.”
The PUNCH had previously reported that the Federal Government had traced Anjarwalla to Kenya after he escaped from lawful custody in Nigeria. In response, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), INTERPOL, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Kenyan Police Service intensified discussions to expedite Anjarwalla’s extradition.
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In an earlier report, it was disclosed that Anjarwalla went into hiding immediately after arriving in Kenya.
Meanwhile, the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, confirmed in the March edition of the EFCC’s bulletin titled “EFCC Alert” that efforts were underway, in collaboration with INTERPOL, the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other international partners, to extradite Anjarwalla.
Olukoyede stated, “The takeover of the prosecution of Binance chiefs by the commission is no less a strong message in the direction of EFCC’s resolve to hedge in distortions and disruptions in the country’s forex market.
“Tax evasion, currency speculation, and money laundering to the tune of $35,400,000 and are at the foundation of the Commission’s five counts against Binance Holdings Limited, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, the company’s chief executives.
“While Gambaryan is currently in the Commission’s net, the process of extraditing the fleeing Anjarwalla is revving in full swing. Involved in partnership with the EFCC to nick Anjarwalla in flight are the International Criminal Police Organisation, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, the governments of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and Kenya as the clock winds down to his arraignment in absentia alongside the company and Gambaryan.”
