By METROWATCH
Nigerian government says fleeing Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, is hiding in his home country, Kenya. Anjarwalla had escaped from custody in Nigeria on on March 22, this year
Recall that in announcing the news of the Binance executive’s escape, the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA), said in a Monday statement by its spokesman Zakari Mijinyawa. “Nadeem Anjarwalla has escaped from custody. He is a suspect in the Federal Government’s ongoing probe into Binance activities in Nigeria.
“The Office of the National Security Adviser confirms that Nadeem Anjarwalla, a suspect in the ongoing criminal probe into the activities of Binance in Nigeria has escaped from lawful custody on Friday, 22 March 2024,” the NSA Office said.
Upon receiving the report, the Office of the NSA took immediate steps, in conjunction with relevant security agencies, MDAs, as well as the international community, to apprehend the suspect.”
According to the Daily Post, a source in the Presidency, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the development as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the International Criminal Police, the Nigeria Police, and the Kenyan Police Service have deepened talks to quicken Anjarwalla’s extradition.
“We know where he is. He is in Kenya, and we’re working with the authorities to bring him back to Nigeria”, the source said.
The Daily Post further reports that the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, last month, in a statement, had stressed that the commission was collaborating with the INTERPOL, the US, UK, Northern Ireland and Kenyan authorities to extradite Anjarwalla, who has been on the run.
The commission had filed a five-count-charge bordering on tax evasion, currency speculation and money laundering against Binance Holdings Limited, Tigran Gambaryan and Anjarwalla, the firm’s executives.
Meanwhile, the government has confirmed that EFCC had fully taken over the case of Binance from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.
For months, the Nigerian government sustained its crackdown on Binance over its role in manipulating the country’s Foreign exchange market.
During the 293rd meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, in February, the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, had said that more than $26 billion had been funnelled through Binance without a trace.
*Additional report by the Daily Post
