Plans are in motion to extradite Binance’s regional manager for Africa, Nadeem Anjarwalla, to Nigeria so that he can face charges, according to the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol).
Speaking on Tuesday during Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily broadcast, Garba Umar is the vice president of the Interpol (Africa) executive committee.
The federal government filed charges of tax evasion and money laundering against Anjarwalla and Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s chief of financial crime compliance.
On February 28, the two were taken into custody.
On March 22, Anjarwalla, together with his colleague Tigran Gambaryan, managed to flee from the federal government’s custody at a guest house located in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria.
In keeping with the spirit of the Ramadan fast, Anjarwalla was rumoured to have escaped when guards brought him to a nearby mosque for prayers.
The Binance regional manager, who is said to hold British and Kenyan citizenship, reportedly fled Nigeria with a passport from the East African country.
Last week, reports suggesting that the Kenya Police had arrested Anjarwalla surfaced.
The Interpol official did not confirm the reports but noted that Kenya is where the fleeing crypto chief was last seen.
“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 said.
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,” he added.
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?’” Umar said.
“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.
Recently, Yuki, Gambaryan’s wife, appealed to the federal government to release her husband, saying he had no influence on Binance’s corporate decisions.
Leemah
November 17, 2020 at 3:49 pm
Hnmm ppl need to eat and survive, if u want to stop okada that’s fine but give them Plan B bf doing that ! They a human and need to survive! U can’t lead ppl wd harshness and xpect peace !