The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced the extradition process for Nadeem Anjarwalla, the chief executive officer of Binance Holdings Limited, after his daring escape from detention on March 22nd.
Anjarwalla along with Tigran Gambaryan, another executive of the cryptocurrency firm, were detained by security agencies in February over allegations of money laundering.
Sources within the government have confirmed that the process to bring Anjarwalla back to Nigeria to face charges related to financial irregularities has begun.
Anjarwalla’s unexpected disappearance occurred while he was being held in detention in Abuja, reportedly using a Kenyan passport to leave the country undetected.
The Nigerian National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, had ordered the detention of Anjarwalla and Gambaryan in what was described as a “safe house” in Abuja.
Both executives were facing charges of money laundering amounting to $35.4 million and were scheduled to appear in court alongside their company, Binance Holdings Limited.
The sudden escape of Anjarwalla raised serious concerns within government circles, prompting swift action to initiate extradition proceedings.
The collaboration between Nigerian authorities and INTERPOL underscores the gravity of the situation and the determination to bring the fugitive executive to justice, Investors King reports.
Meanwhile, security agencies in Nigeria have detained the soldiers who were assigned to monitor Anjarwalla while he was in custody.
These soldiers are currently being questioned by special investigators from various security and intelligence agencies, including the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), the police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
The EFCC, which has taken over the case from the Office of the National Security Adviser, is set to arraign Binance Holdings Limited and Tigran Gambaryan in court on Thursday.
Anjarwalla, who is now a fugitive, will be arraigned in absentia alongside his detained colleague and their company.
The government’s efforts to extradite Anjarwalla demonstrate its commitment to combating financial crimes and ensuring accountability within the cryptocurrency industry.
As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on bringing all those involved in the alleged money laundering scheme to justice.