The Kenya Police Service says it has arrested the fleeing Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla.
The International Criminal Police Organisation is also preparing to extradite him to Nigeria within the week.
Government sources familiar with the case who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak on the matter confirmed the development.
“Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, has been arrested by the Kenya Police Service, and he would be extradited to Nigeria this week by INTERPOL,” a source said.
Another source noted, “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.”
The Federal Government had traced Anjarwalla to Kenya, following his escape from lawful custody in Nigeria. Anjarwalla had gone into hiding immediately after he landed in Kenya.
Following the development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the International Criminal Police, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Kenyan Police Service had deepened talks to facilitate Anjarwalla’s extradition.
“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; 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,” the report had quoted a source as saying.
Meanwhile, the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, had, in the March edition of its bulletin titled, EFCC Alert, confirmed that the commission was working in conjunction with the International Criminal Police Organisation, the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation, the governments of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and Kenya to extradite Anjarwalla.
Olukoyede said, “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.”
