Kenyan officials have refuted reports claiming the arrest of Binance executive Nadeem Anjarwalla, who is wanted in Nigeria on tax evasion charges.

Three weeks ago, Nigerian authorities reportedly requested Kenya’s assistance in apprehending and extraditing Anjarwalla. However, Kenyan authorities have only confirmed his presence in the country.

According to Kenyan law, extradition requests must be processed through the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) after obtaining an arrest warrant from a magistrate court.

Key Kenyan officials, including Resila Onyango, spokesperson for the National Police Service (NPS), and other unnamed officials, have denied knowledge of any arrest. Crypto publication Coindesk also reported that Anjarwalla’s wife has dismissed rumors of his extradition.

A high-ranking detective at the Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has confirmed that Anjarwalla has not been arrested despite Nigeria’s request through Interpol. The detective emphasized that Interpol cannot execute arrest warrants in Kenya without following legal procedures.

The situation is reminiscent of the case involving Nigerian national Nnamdi Kanu, who was arrested in Nairobi in 2021 and extradited to Nigeria to face terrorism charges. However, Kenyan officials denied any involvement in his extraordinary rendition.

In Anjarwalla’s case, the complexity is compounded by his Kenyan passport, which he allegedly used to flee Nigeria. If arrested, Anjarwalla could contest the extradition in court, potentially prolonging the process.

Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has accused Anjarwalla and another Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, of tax evasion. Binance and the executives have denied the allegations. Gambaryan remains in custody in Nigeria, while Anjarwalla fled to Kenya before facing charges. CONTINUE READING