The Federal Government and the International Criminal Police Organisation have initiated the extradition process for Nadeem Anjarwalla, a Binance chief who escaped from detention on March 22. Anjarwalla and Tigran Gambaryan, executives of Binance Holdings Limited, were arrested in February over alleged money laundering and detained in Abuja on the order of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Anjarwalla's escape from detention and departure from Nigeria using a Kenyan passport prompted the government to begin the process of extraditing him back to Nigeria. Despite his absence, the arraignment of Binance and Gambaryan in court on Thursday over a five-count money laundering charge is set to proceed.
The Nigerian government is collaborating with INTERPOL, the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation, the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Kenyan government to apprehend and extradite Anjarwalla. Meanwhile, Gambaryan, now in EFCC custody, will be arraigned in court alongside Binance on Thursday, April 4, 2024, in Anjarwalla's absence.
The charges against Binance Holdings Limited, Gambaryan, and Anjarwalla include engaging in specialized financial business without a valid license, unlawful negotiation of foreign exchange rates, and concealing the origin of proceeds from unlawful activities. The Federal Government's actions underscore its commitment to combatting financial irregularities and ensuring accountability in the cryptocurrency sector.
