The Federal Government tracked down Binance executive Nadeem Anjarwalla, who fled from Nigeria and was found hiding in Kenya.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, International Criminal Police, Nigeria Police Force, and Kenyan Police Service are collaborating to expedite Anjarwalla’s extradition.
Presidency sources informed Saturday PUNCH that Anjarwalla, now exposed, went into hiding upon arriving in Kenya.
“We’ve located him in Kenya and are working with authorities to return him to Nigeria,” a source revealed.
Another insider confirmed the statement, emphasizing joint efforts between Nigerian and Kenyan agencies and INTERPOL.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede stated in the agency’s bulletin that the EFCC was collaborating with international and domestic agencies to extradite Anjarwalla.
Olukoyede explained that the EFCC’s prosecution of Binance chiefs signals its commitment to curbing disruptions in Nigeria’s forex market.
Anjarwalla is accused of tax evasion, currency speculation, and money laundering amounting to $35.4 million, alongside Binance Holdings Limited and Tigran Gambaryan.
Gambaryan is currently in EFCC custody, and Anjarwalla’s extradition process is underway.
The government of Nigeria, INTERPOL, the FBI, and UK, Northern Ireland, and Kenyan governments are all working to extradite Anjarwalla.
FG has started Anjarwalla’s extradition process over the alleged $35.4 million money laundering case.
Sources indicated that Anjarwalla would be arraigned in absentia alongside Binance and Gambaryan.
Soldiers assigned to monitor Anjarwalla are under investigation by military, DSS, Police, EFCC, and National Intelligence Agency.
The EFCC charged Binance Holdings Limited and two executives, Gambaryan and Anjarwalla, now at large, with money laundering.
The EFCC, taking over the case from the NSA, charged Binance, Gambaryan, and Anjarwalla for $35.4 million money laundering.
Sources confirmed Gambaryan’s EFCC custody and Anjarwalla’s pending extradition, with charges filed in court.
Anjarwalla and Binance face charges of unlicensed financial institution operations, foreign exchange manipulation, and money laundering.
Anjarwalla and his partners face VAT evasion and failure to issue invoices to subscribers, violating tax laws.
They also face charges of aiding subscribers in tax evasion on Binance trading platforms.
FG has been cracking down on money launderers and terrorism financiers, many of whom allegedly use Binance.
The government accused Binance of facilitating money laundering, terrorist financing, and currency speculation.
Binance’s detention in Nigeria followed the platform’s guilty plea and $4.3 billion settlement with the US Department of Justice.
Founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao resigned and pleaded guilty, with his trial set for April 30, 2024.
