Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Binance executive who escaped detention from Nigeria a few weeks ago, has found himself in the hands of the Kenyan Police Service, putting a potential end to his unexpected freedom. Notably, this is happening less than a week after the Nigerian government reported that it had tracked the fleeing executive to Kenya.
Local media, PUNCH, reported details of the arrest, confirming Anjarwalla's arrest and revealing that the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) intends to hand the fleeing Binance executive over to Nigerian regulatory authorities within the week.
The arrest is the result of a concerted effort by all parties involved, including the Nigerian and Kenyan Governments, who have worked in tandem with INTERPOL to ensure that Anjarwalla returns to Nigeria, where he is representing Binance, as the trading platform continues to seek common ground in its legal dispute with the Nigerian government.
Anjarwalla's Escape Recap
Recall that Nadeem Anjarwalla was one of the two Binance executives sent by the exchange to represent it following the legal dispute that ensued after the Nigerian government accused the trading platform of several financial crimes like tax evasion, money laundering, aiding customers to evade tax, among several other charges deemed to have contributed to the devaluation of the Nigerian currency, Naira.
However, late last month, on March 22nd, Anjarwalla orchestrated an escape plan that saw him flee detention from the guest house where he and his colleague, Tigran Gambaryan, were being held.
It is alleged that he had found an opening to escape after the guards on duty escorted him to a nearby mosque to participate in the Muslim Ramadan fast prayers.
What Is Next?
Presently, efforts to bring Anjarwalla to book have been fast-tracked, with discussions and cooperations between the Nigerian and Kenyan securities.
While the extradition process for Nadeem Anjarwalla is underway, it is not without its share of challenges. As one of the detectives familiar with the case revealed, local authorities must navigate the legal requirement of seeking court approval in a process that could potentially prolong the proceedings for several months.
Meanwhile, Gambaryan remains in Nigerian custody awaiting trial on May 22nd after the tax evasion court case hearing postponement involving him, Nadeem Anjarwalla, and Binance.
