Kenyan authorities have apprehended Nadeem Anjarwalla, a high-ranking executive of Binance, following his escape from Nigeria.
The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) is now actively working to extradite him to Nigeria within the coming week, according to government sources familiar with the matter.
The sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the case, confirmed the arrest of Nadeem Anjarwalla by the Kenya Police Service on Sunday night. They further disclosed that the extradition process would be facilitated by INTERPOL.
It was exclusively reported on the Federal Government’s efforts to track down Anjarwalla in Kenya after he evaded lawful custody in Nigeria. In response, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), INTERPOL, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Kenyan Police Service have intensified discussions to expedite his extradition.
Anjarwalla, whose location had remained unknown, went into hiding immediately upon arriving in Kenya. However, a source revealed, “We have found him. We know where he is; he is in Kenya, and we’re working with the authorities to bring him back to Nigeria. All hands are on deck as the government and security agencies collaborate with the Kenyan authorities and INTERPOL to ensure his return and face the charges against him.”
In the March edition of the EFCC’s bulletin, titled “EFCC Alert,” Chairman Ola Olukoyede confirmed the commission’s collaborative efforts with INTERPOL, the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the governments of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and Kenya to secure Anjarwalla’s extradition.
Olukoyede stated, “The commission’s assumption of the prosecution of Binance executives sends a strong message about the EFCC’s determination to curb distortions and disruptions in the country’s forex market. The charges against Binance Holdings Limited, Tigran Gambaryan, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, the company’s chief executives, include tax evasion, currency speculation, and money laundering amounting to $35,400,000. While Gambaryan is currently in custody, the process of extraditing Anjarwalla, who fled, is in full swing. The EFCC is working in partnership with INTERPOL, the FBI, and the governments of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and Kenya to ensure Anjarwalla’s arrest and his subsequent arraignment alongside the company and Gambaryan.”