Kenyan officials have reportedly denied the arrest of the Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla facing tax evasion charges in Nigeria.
Nigerian authorities asked the Kenyan government to arrest and extradite Anjarwalla three weeks ago, people familiar with the matter said. So far, Nairobi has only confirmed his presence in the country
According to Kenyan law, an extradition request sent to the Attorney General requires an arrest warrant from a magistrate court request through the Directorate of Public Prosecution.
The spokesperson for the National Police Service, of Kenya, Resila Onyango said she was not aware of the arrest, while other officials called the report of his arrest mere rumours. Nigeria’s request to extradite Binance exec from Kenya could face complications, according to TechCabal.
“They are piling pressure, but he has not been arrested as reported. The process is lengthy and cannot be done without involving other agencies. Interpol cannot arrest a Kenyan without following the law,” the investigator told TechCabal.
Recall that Anjarwalla on March 22 had escaped from an Abuja guest house where he and Tigran Gambaryan had been kept by the federal government.
He was said to have escaped after guards led him to a nearby mosque for prayers in the spirit of the Ramadan fast.
It is reported that the Binance executed had fled Nigeria using a Kenyan passport.
Anjarwalla and Gambaryan were arrested by the Nigerian authorities upon their arrival for tax evasion and money laundering charges on February 28.
The two officials were charged with a crime before the Abuja Magistrate’s Court. on 28 February 2024, the court granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission an order to remand the duo for 14 days. Also, the court ordered Binance to give the Nigeria government access to information and data about trading on its site.
The court extended the detention of the officials for a further 14 days after Binance refused to comply so that they could not tamper with evidence. The case was continued to 4 April 2024 by the court.
