Kenya Government Denies Reports Of Binance Executive’s Detainment After Nigeria Exit

Kenya Government Denies Reports Of Binance Executive’s Detainment After Nigeria Exit....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Kenyan authorities have refuted claims regarding the apprehension of Nadeem Anjarwalla, a Binance executive sought by Nigeria for alleged tax evasion. Reports indicate that Nigerian officials had urged Kenya to arrest and extradite Anjarwalla weeks ago, yet Nairobi has affirmed only his presence within the country.

This development has caused a setback in Nigeria’s pursuit of legal action against the cryptocurrency giant Binance. Per Kenyan legal procedures, an extradition request forwarded to the Attorney General must be processed through the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) upon receipt of an arrest warrant from a magistrate court.

Notably, top Kenyan officials, including Resila Onyango, spokesperson for the National Police Service (NPS), informed TechCabal on Tuesday that they were unaware of any arrest. Additionally, two other officials, preferring anonymity, dismissed reports initially surfaced in a Nigerian newspaper as mere “rumors”.

Anjarwalla’s wife, as reported by crypto publication Coindesk on Monday, also denied any knowledge of the extradition process. Moreover, a senior detective at Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI), privy to Nigeria’s extradition request via Interpol, refuted the alleged arrest.

“The pressure is mounting, but Anjarwalla has not been detained as reported. The procedural complexities involve multiple agencies and adherence to legal frameworks. Interpol lacks authority to apprehend a Kenyan without due process,” the investigator informed TechCabal.

Regarding extradition norms, while Interpol facilitates global law enforcement cooperation, it lacks powers to execute arrest warrants. The uncertainty surrounding Anjarwalla’s status mirrors a prior incident involving Nigerian citizen Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest in Nairobi in 2021, leading to extradition to Nigeria on terrorism charges, despite Kenya’s denial of involvement.

However, Anjarwalla’s situation is intricate due to his possession of a Kenyan passport, purportedly utilized post-Nigerian escape. In the event of arrest, Anjarwalla could contest extradition in court, a process potentially protracted.

Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) accuses Anjarwalla and fellow Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan of non-registration of the crypto exchange for tax purposes. FIRS alleges Binance’s failure to deduct Value Added Tax (VAT) and facilitation of tax evasion, claims refuted by Binance and the executives.

While Gambaryan remains in custody, contesting money laundering charges, Anjarwalla reportedly fled a guest house in Abuja and sought refuge in Kenya before arraignment.

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