The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has announced steps to extradite Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, to Nigeria for prosecution.
On Tuesday, Garba Umar, vice president of the Interpol (Africa) executive committee, appeared on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme.
The federal government had charged Anjarwalla and Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s chief of financial crime compliance, with tax evasion and money laundering.
On February 28, the two executives were caught and imprisoned.
However, on March 22, Anjarwalla fled from a guest home in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, where he and his colleague, Gambaryan, had been Detained.
Anjarwalla reportedly escaped as guards brought him to a neighbouring mosque for Ramadan prayers.
Anjarwalla, who is thought to have British and Kenyan citizenship, reportedly fled Nigeria on an East African passport.
Umar said:
Last Monday, news appeared claiming that the Kenya Police had arrested Anjarwalla.
The Interpol officer did not confirm the reports, but said the fleeing crypto head was last spotted in Kenya.
“I’m not aware but what I can tell you is that the last destination I know on my record of this guy when he fled (Nigeria) was Kenya. That I can confirm to you.”
Umar added that Interpol has contacted all countries where Anjarwalla was believed to have transited and,
“we got some certain information which is not possible to share on this platform“
Rest assured, we located where he was, how he boarded, all information about him and how he landed. We have done that to make sure that he doesn’t escape justice.”
Umar added that the Binance executive will be returned to Nigeria to face trial once a red notice has been issued and circulated to concerned countries.
“Now, it is not only morally right but it is legally right for the country to get him apprehended, inform the requesting country that ‘the fugitive you are looking for has been apprehended and is in our custody. Can you come and take him over?’”
“This is the process. He may be in Kenya, he may be in hiding, he might have even left Kenya but because of the notices we have given, wherever he is, he will be smoked out.”
Gambaryan is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after his arraignment.