The Nigerian Federal Government has successfully located a Binance executive who fled Nigeria, Nadeem Anjarwalla, in Kenya.
This development has intensified international collaboration as Nigerian authorities work closely with the Kenyan Police Service to facilitate Anjarwalla’s extradition.
The pursuit of Anjarwalla involves several key law enforcement agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), and the Nigeria Police Force.
These bodies have been engaged in detailed discussions to expedite the extradition process and ensure Anjarwalla faces the legal proceedings pending against him in Nigeria.
According to sources within the Presidency, who spoke to Saturday Punch, Anjarwalla escaped to Kenya and immediately went into hiding upon his arrival.
His whereabouts were unknown until recent breakthroughs in the investigation revealed his location, marking a significant step forward in the case.
The 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.”
Another source also close to the matter, corroborated the first source’s statement.
The source noted, “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 EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, had in the March edition of the agency’s bulletin titled, “EFCC Alert,” which was released last week, 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 noted, “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 $35.4m are at the foundation of the commission’s five-count charges 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.”
Sources revealed that the Federal Government has commenced the extradition process of Anjarwalla back to Nigeria, over alleged $35,400,000 money laundering.
A source said, “Mr Anjarwalla’s extradition process has begun. The FG is working as did with INTERPOL to extradite the fugitive to Nigeria. He’s a fugitive that escaped from lawful custody, and his other partner is still in custody and will be arraigned on Thursday alongside their company, Binance.”
Another source revealed, “It is true that the FG has commenced the process of extraditing Binance’ Anjarwalla to bring him back to Nigeria to answer to his money laundering case in court, among others. The arraignment of Binance and Gambaryan in court on Thursday would also aid Anjarwalla’s extradition.”
Meanwhile, a top security source working on the matter confirmed to Punch that the soldiers detailed to monitor Anjarwalla were being grilled by special investigators drawn from the military, Department of State Services, Police, EFCC, and National Intelligence Agency.
The source revealed, “The soldiers detailed to monitor Anjarwalla have been detained as you know, and they’re still being grilled by special investigators drawn from various security and intelligence agencies and services- the military, DSS, NIA, and the police, all hands are on deck, as it is a matter of national security.”
