Kenyan officials haverumoursssed claims suggesting that Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Binance executive facing taxes onon charges in Nigeria, was apprehended in Kenya on April 22.
Contrary to reports from several Nigerian publications, Kenyan authorities have denied any arrest, dismissing them as mere rumors. Acanonymousto sources familiar with the situation, Nigerian authorities sought Anjarwalla’s arrest and extradition three weeks ago, but Nairobi has only acknowledged his presence in the country, complicating Nigeria’s case against Binance.
Resila Onyango, the spokesperson for the National Police Service (NPS), clarified that they had no knowledge of Anjthat arwalla’s arrest. Additionally, two other officials, who preferred to remain anonymous, dismissed the reports as unfounded rumors. Anjarwalla’s wife also denied the news of his extradition, as reported by crypto publindesk.
A high-ranking detective at Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) revealed that no arrest had been made, despite Nigeria’s extradition request through Interpol. The detective emphasized the lengthy and legally intricate process involved in extraditing a Kenyan citizen, stating that Interpol cannot execute arrest warrants independently of legal protocols.
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While Interpol facilitates information sharing among law enforcement agencies worldwide, it lacks the authority to execute arrest warrants. The situation surrounding Anjarwalla’s whereabouts and potential extradition mirrors past incidents, such as the arrest of Nigerian national Nnamdi Kanu in Nairobi in 2021, where Kenyan officials denied involvement in his subsequent transfer to Nigeria to face terrorism charges.
Anjarwalla’s case presents additional complexity due to his Kenyan citizenship, which he reportedly utilized after fleeing Nigeria. In the event of his arrest, Anjarwalla could contest extradition in court, a process that could extend over months or even years. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has accused Anjarwalla and another Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, of failing to register the crypto exchange for tax purposes.
According to FIRS court filings, Binance allegedly neglected to deduct Value Added Tax (VAT) and facilitated tax evasion among its users. Despite these allegations, Binance and its executives have vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
While Gambaryan remains in custody and has pleaded not guilty to money laundering charges, Anjarwalla managed to escape from a guest house in Abuja, subsequently fleeing to Kenya before facing arraignment.