The Kenya Police Service has apprehended Nadeem Anjarwalla, a fleeing executive of Binance, following efforts by the International Criminal Police Organisation to extradite him to Nigeria within the week.
According to government sources familiar with the case who preferred to remain anonymous due to lack of authorization to speak on the matter, the arrest was confirmed on Sunday night.
One source stated, “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 corroborated this, stating, “As we had said before that Anjarwalla would be extradited, he has been arrested in Kenya, and he’ll be extradited to Nigeria this week.”
Earlier, The PUNCH exclusively reported that the Federal Government had traced Anjarwalla to Kenya after he escaped lawful custody in Nigeria.
Following this development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the International Criminal Police (INTERPOL), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Kenyan Police Service have intensified discussions to expedite Anjarwalla’s extradition.
In a previous report by Saturday PUNCH, it was revealed that Anjarwalla, who had been hiding since his arrival in Kenya, had been located. A source was quoted saying, “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.”
The report further stated, “All hands are on the deck; the government and all the security agencies are working hard in conjunction with the Kenyan authorities and INTERPOL to ensure his return to Nigeria to face the charges brought against him.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, confirmed in the March edition of its bulletin titled, “EFCC Alert,” that the commission was collaborating with INTERPOL, the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the governments of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and Kenya 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 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 nab Anjarwalla in flight are the International Criminal Police Organisation, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, and 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.”
