In a major development, Kenyan authorities have apprehended Nadeem Anjarwalla, a regional manager for cryptocurrency giant Binance.
Anjarwalla’s arrest comes after a daring escape from Nigerian custody in March, where he faced charges of tax evasion and money laundering.
News of the arrest broke on Sunday, with sources close to the investigation confirming Anjarwalla’s capture to the PUNCH.
Interpol, the international criminal police organisation, is reportedly facilitating his extradition back to Nigeria within the week.
Anjarwalla’s escape from a government-guarded guest house in Abuja sparked outrage in Nigeria. He was said to have fled while under religious observation during Ramadan prayers, and sought refuge in Kenya.
The escape fueled suspicion surrounding the Nigerian government’s recent crackdown on cryptocurrency platforms, including Binance. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, accused Binance of facilitating billions of dollars in untraceable transactions, potentially weakening the naira.
Anjarwalla’s arrest marks a significant step in resolving the legal battle between him and Nigerian authorities.
The PUNCH had exclusively reported that the Federal Government had traced Anjarwalla to Kenya, following his escape from Nigeria. Nigerian and Kenyan authorities have deepened talks to quicken his extradition.
The specifics of his extradition and the fate of his colleague, Tigran Gambaryan, who was also arrested in February, will be known in the coming weeks.
Ezinwanne Onwuka, senior staff reporter and columnist with WAP is a Nigerian-based writer and content developer. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Her interests include reading, writing, researching and graphic designing.
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