Kenya is preparing to extradite Binance executive Nadeem Anjarwalla, who is wanted by Nigerian authorities for alleged involvement in tax evasion and a dramatic escape from custody. Anjarwala was arrested in Kenya over the weekend in a joint operation involving several agencies including the EFCC, Nigeria Police Force, Kenya Police Service, FBI and Interpol, following weeks of search efforts. He is expected to be extradited to Nigeria within the week to stand trial on tax evasion charges, along with possible additional charges related to illegal passport use and escaping custody.
Anjarwalla, a regional manager for Binance Africa, along with another executive, Tigran Gambrayan, faced legal trouble in Nigeria in February over their links to the cryptocurrency exchange. Anjarwala evaded detention last March using a Kenyan passport and had eluded authorities until his recent arrest.
These developments add to ongoing tensions between Binance and Nigerian authorities. Gambrayan, who has been detained since February, is currently on trial for tax evasion. But proceedings have been delayed, with the court adjourning the case twice due to problems formally serving the charges to the exchange. Binance CEO Richard Teng has expressed his willingness to cooperate with Nigerian authorities, but specific efforts to secure the release of the detained executives have not yet been disclosed.
Likewise, Gambrayan’Kenya’s attempt to secure bail for a Binance executive linked to tax evasion to Nigeria has hit a roadblock, with the Federal High Court in Abuja adjourning the hearing of his bail application. He is currently imprisoned at Kuje Correctional Center pending further legal proceedings.
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