Recently, Kenyan authorities have been preparing to extradite Nadeem Anjarwalla, a Binance executive wanted by the Nigerian government. A coordinated effort involving various agencies, including the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Police Force, Kenya Police Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), resulted in his capture in Kenya.
Following his arrest, reports from local media outlets suggest that Anjarwalla is set to be extradited to Nigeria within the week. In Nigeria, he is expected to stand trial for charges related to tax evasion. Additionally, there are speculations that Nigerian law enforcement agencies may bring further charges against him for using illegal passports and escaping from custody.
Anjarwalla, who is the regional manager for Binance Africa, and another executive, Tigran Gambrayan, have been embroiled in legal issues in Nigeria since February. Both were detained by the authorities due to their involvement with the crypto exchange. Anjarwalla managed to evade legal custody in March using a Kenyan passport and has been evading capture since then.
The ongoing conflict between Binance and Nigerian authorities has escalated with the recent developments. Gambrayan, the detained Binance executive, is facing trial for alleged tax evasion. However, the proceedings have been delayed as the exchange was not formally served with the charges. The court is expected to make a decision on the case by May 17. Binance CEO Richard Teng has expressed willingness to cooperate with Nigerian authorities to resolve the issue, although specific strategies to secure the release of the detained executives have not been disclosed.
Efforts to secure the release of the detained executives have faced setbacks. Gambrayan’s bail application hearing was postponed by a federal high court in Abuja, and he is currently being held at the Kuje correctional center. The situation remains fluid, with uncertainties surrounding the extradition process and potential outcomes for Anjarwalla and Gambrayan. The resolution of this case will undoubtedly have implications for the relationship between Binance and Nigerian authorities moving forward.