Wife Speaks on Extradition of Crypto Boss Behind Ksh4.6 Billion Scandal in Kenya

A contingent of Kenya Police Officers during a past operation
A contingent of Kenya Police Officers during a past operation.
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AllAfrica

The wife of wanted Binance Executive Nadeem Anjarwalla has been forced to clear the air after reports emerged that her husband had been arrested while hiding in Kenya.

Anjarwalla was first traced to Kenya by the Nigerian Government in mid-April after he reportedly escaped custody where he is wanted for participating in the embezzlement of crypto money transactions topping Ksh4.6 billion ($35,400,000).

On Monday, Nigerian outlets widely reported that the tycoon had been arrested by the Kenyan police who were working to extradite him to Nigeria.

Punch News, a Nigerian outlet, reported in detail that the tycoon had been nabbed on Sunday night in an operation involving the Interpol.

Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla.
Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla.
Photo
Daily Post

His extradition was also expected to take place within the week.

“Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, has been arrested by the Kenya Police Service, and he would be extradited to Nigeria this week by Interpol," the paper quoted an unnamed source.

“As we had said before that Anjarwalla would be extradited, he has been arrested in Kenya, and he’ll be extradited to Nigeria this week," it corroborated with another outlet.

His wife, however, told CoinDesk, a high-ranking publication in the cryptocurrency community, that the reports of the arrest were not factual.

The Nigerian authorities working in tandem with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the International Criminal Police, and the Kenyan Police had been tracking the activities of the tycoon since he reportedly escaped police custody in the West African country.

He is expected to answer to five counts including tax evasion and currency speculation as well as laundering money against Binance Holdings Limited’s executives. 

The Nigerian Government had also accused the cryptocurrency company of manipulating the country’s Foreign exchange market.

Anjarwalla, who holds a British-Nigerian citizenship and works as Binance Africa Regional Manager, escaped custody on March 22 while under a 14-day remand.

Binance previously pleaded guilty to money laundering charges by the US government and agreed to pay Ksh559 billion($4.3 billion) to settle the criminal charges.

Nigerian police officers arresting a suspect in Abuja in December 2021.
Nigerian police officers arresting a suspect in Abuja in December 2021.
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