NewStats: 3,265,486 , 8,186,909 topics. Date: Sunday, 15 June 2025 at 09:07 AM 3w2z3u

The Federal Government and the International Criminal Police Organisation have commenced the process of extraditing a Binance chief, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who escaped from detention on March 22.

Security agencies had in February arrested Anjarwalla and Tigran Gambaryan, two executives of the crypto-currency firm, Binance Holdings Limited, over alleged money laundering.

They were detained in ‘a safe house’ in Abuja on the order of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

Among other charges, the firm and the two executives were arraigned for $35,400,000 money laundering at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

But on Friday, March 22, Anjarwalla escaped from detention and left the country using a Kenyan port.

On Tuesday, top government sources confirmed to The PUNCH that the process of extraditing the fugitive had begun.

The sources noted that Anjarwalla’s absence would not affect the arraignment of Binance and Tigran and Gambaryan in court on Thursday over a five-count money laundering charge.

“Mr Anjarwalla’s extradition process has begun. The Federal Government is working as did with INTERPOL to extradite the fugitive to Nigeria. He’s a fugitive that escaped from lawful custody, and his other partner is still in custody and would be arraigned on Thursday alongside their company, Binance,” a source noted.

Another source revealed, “It is true that the Federal Government has commenced the process of extraditing Binance’ Anjarwalla in order to bring him back to Nigeria to answer to his money laundering case in court, among others. The arraignment of Binance and Gambaryan in court on Thursday will also aide Anjarwalla’s extradition.”

Meanwhile, a top security source confirmed to our correspondent that the soldiers detailed to monitor Anjarwalla were being grilled by special investigators drawn from the military, Department of State Services, the police, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the National Intelligence Agency.

“The soldiers detailed to monitor Anjarwalla have been detained as you know, and they’re still being grilled by special investigators drawn from various security and intelligence agencies and services- the military, DSS, NIA, and the police, all hands are on deck as it is a matter of national security.”

Meanwhile, the EFCC will on Thursday arraign Binance Holdings Limited and two of its senior executives Gambaryan; and Anjarwalla, th fugitive over alleged $35,400,000 money laundering.

The EFCC had on Thursday, March 28, charged Binance Holdings Limited, Gambaryan, Anjarwalla with $35,400,000 money laundering.

The EFCC which has now fully taken over the case from the Office of the National Security Adviser, has also detained Gambaryan, and obtained a court warrant to arrest and extradite Anjarwalla.

Confirming the development to our correspondent on Friday, impeccable sources noted that Anjarwalla would be arraigned in an absentia alongside Binance and Mr Gambaryan who’s now in EFCC custody.

“The detained Binance executive, Gambaryan is now in custody of the EFCC. The NSA has totally handed over the matter to the EFCC for investigation and prosecution. The commission has charged Binance, Gambaryan and Anjarwalla to court for $35,400,000 money laundering, and they’ll be arraigned in court on Thursday, April 4, 2024.” a source noted.

Another source revealed that, “The EFCC is now partnering the International Criminal Police Organisation, the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation, the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Kenyan government, to effect the arrest and extradition of Mr Anjarwalla, the fugitive who fled from lawful custody in Nigeria.”

Following the takeover of the investigation into the alleged financial irregularities committed by Binance, the EFCC had filed five-count charges bordering on money laundering against the crypto-currency giant and two of its executives, Anjarwalla and Gambaryan.

The court documents obtained by our correspondent revealed that the charges were filed on Thursday, March 28, 2024, before the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja division.

The charges read, “That you, Binance Holdings Limited (“aka Binance”) Tigran Gambaryan, and Nadeem Anjarwalla (now at large), between January, 2023 and January, 2024 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court carried on specialized business of other financial institution without valid licence and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 57(1) and (2) of the Banks and Other Financial, Institutions Act, 2020 and punishable under section 57(5) of the same Act.

“Count two, that you, Binance Holdings Limited (“aka Binance”) Tigran Gambaryan, and Nadeem Anjarwalla (now at large), between January, 2022 and January, 2024 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court engaged in business of other financial institution (other than insurance, stock broking and pension fund management) without valid licence and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 58(5) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020.


“Count three, that you, Binance Holdings Limited (“aka Binance”) between January, 2022 and January, 2024 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court not being an authorized dealer in Nigeria’s Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market used your virtual asset services platform to unlawfully negotiate foreign exchange rates in Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 29(1) (c) of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring And Miscellaneous Provisions) Act.

“Count four, that you, Binance Holdings Limited (“aka Binance”) Tigran Gambaryan, and Nadeem Anjarwalla (now at large), and other persons at large between January, 2023 and January, 2024 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to conceal the origin of the proceeds of your unlawful activities and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 21 (a) and punishable under section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“Count five, that you, Binance Holdings Limited (“aka Binance”) Tigran Gambaryan, and Nadeem Anjarwalla between January, 2023 and December, 2023 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court concealed the origin of a cumulative sum of $35,400, 000 (Thirty Five Million, Four Hundred United States Dollars) generated as revenue by Binance in Nigeria knowing that the funds constituted proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and prohibition) Act, 2022.”

The Federal Government, on Monday last week, ed the INTERPOL and issued an arrest warrant for the apprehension of Anjarwalla, who escaped from lawful custody.

The PUNCH reported on March 26, 2024 that the accused used a Kenyan port to escape, while his colleague was still in custody.

According to the report, Anjarwalla, escaped from Abuja through a Middle East airliner.

The office of the NSA had confirmed the escape of Anjarwalla in a statement issued in Abuja on March 26 by the Head of its Strategic Communication, Zakari Mijinyawa, who stated that preliminary investigation showed that the escapee fled Nigeria using a smuggled international port.

Anjarwalla escaped from ‘a safe house’ where he and his colleague were detained guarded by heavily armed soldiers.

Financial Times had on February 28, 2024, reported that two executives of the company were arrested and detained after they flew into the country as a result of a ban on their website.

On March 12, 2024, the FT reported that the EFCC asked Binance to share data on its 100 top s in Nigeria as well as all transaction history for the past six months.

According to the report, the request is at the centre of negotiations between Binance and Nigeria.

https://punchng.com/fg-interpol-in-talks-over-binance-chiefs-extradition/?amp

It's a shame and a very big insult to our collective sensibilities that a Binance executive will escape detention in Nigeria...

What are we really doing in this country?

I want to promise the FG that we are watching, if care is not taken, more and more people will pick up arms since crime is now a lucrative business in this so called country.

You know what that means? You really want Nigeria to burn.

Ok

Naija my country

we are waiting for the end of the saga

How did he escape... Make una dey whine una self

Ever since dem arrested this man, Naira continued to be uptrend

The country never seize to disgrace themselves.

Interpol shd enforce an arrest warrant that looks and smells like illegal detention n kidnapping?

There are local INTERPOL offices in all our airports, if they ever see him anywhere near any zoo airport, they can arrest him

Jokers hahaha. 🇳🇬 moi countrie

Talks are already over after he was mistaken deliberately set free

Will the Federal Government win this case ?

Mumu government. Dem no want our progress at all. Nawa

So truly his a criminal... if he really messed-up our currency den he needs to do his time in Nigeria

Balderdash

Abi he has paid dues to the top, hence aid his escape... Naija which way..

dre11:


https://punchng.com/fg-interpol-in-talks-over-binance-chiefs-extradition/?amp

Dem get luck na India if na pure u.s citizen,within 24hrs ,letter from white House, de go release book first class flight to u.s

Just tell us you are already planning to carry guns. because escape from detention is not only about nigeria it can happen every where and they are pursuing it the right way. so if criminality is already in your blood go ahead and face the music. dont drag others into it.

Hhansome:
It's a shame and a very big insult to our collective sensibilities that a Binance executive will escape detention in Nigeria...

What are we really doing in this country?

I want to promise the FG that we are watching, if care is not taken, more and more people will pick up arms since crime is now a lucrative business in this so called country.

You know what that means? You really want Nigeria to burn.

Chasing wind

Really crazy how he pulled that off. Like up to the airport and out, no single emergency communication across security agencies notifying them of an escaped person of interest.

Story story story
Akụkọ Mama Ngozi na ndị yard

Keep playing

The guy just disappeared without any connivance with the security operatives? You all play too much.

Hhansome:
It's a shame and a very big insult to our collective sensibilities that a Binance executive will escape detention in Nigeria...

What are we really doing in this country?

I want to promise the FG that we are watching, if care is not taken, more and more people will pick up arms since crime is now a lucrative business in this so called country.

You know what that means? You really want Nigeria to burn.

Am sure if this fellow was detained in the DSS underground German cell you will still Wale that Nigeria is a lawless country, these crooks were detained in a safe house and with the pretence that he wanted to pray at jumat on Friday he escaped from the mosque, the intepol are on his case and I tell you the remaining two people won’t enjoy this privilege.

Hhansome:
It's a shame and a very big insult to our collective sensibilities that a Binance executive will escape detention in Nigeria...

What are we really doing in this country?

I want to promise the FG that we are watching, if care is not taken, more and more people will pick up arms since crime is now a lucrative business in this so called country.

You know what that means? You really want Nigeria to burn.

People like you and many others are just looking for anything negative to pounce on the government. Many of you talked against the government when the man's name was mentioned and ation was taken against him but now you are talking otherwise.
Now to the matter, he wasnt in detention but house arrest, he has freedom to move within the circumference of his house and he used that loophole during the fasting prayers to run away.

It is not new and Nigeria is not the first case it happened Infact people escape from US prison and they re not ranting here like we do.

The extradition is in process and it will be done because he committed a crime I.e internationally known.
Now to you thrateneing to carry guns, thats the main poimt you are trying to , sime if you wont even dare ti carry gubs but will instigate the masses to do So, and if they kill one of your relative now or destroy properties connected to you. You will start Nigeria has happened to you...

If you want to carry guns please carry it atleast when they catch u we will have something to read on nairaland

Unpatriotism is what will make someone choose a process that will only enrich u at the detriment of your country and its entire populace. These same people will come online to accuse the government of not doing enough to solve the people he or she has contributed into through their selfish adventure. If I say O, u say Bi, another man say Didn't, omo na u sabi

Alright

[quote author=daspeaker post=129245082]Just tell us you are already planning to carry guns. because escape from detention is not only about nigeria it can happen every where and they are pursuing it the right way. so if criminality is already in your blood go ahead and face the music. dont drag others into it.
[/quote
My thought exactly

All the children of hate who are ing this criminal against Nigeria are all together criminals. I want him back in his cell and he shall be thoroughly tortured to vomit the names of those who helped him escape. Naira has steadily increasing in value since they arrested this ba$tard which shows that Tinubu policies isn't what is really so bad but the activities of people like these. God punish anyone who pity him

After reading the entire of the Binance executive's escape, I can't help but feel that Nigeria, my country, is on the path to greatness if the story holds true."

Calling for extradition and drilling of the soldiers

This is actually embarrassing now. Is binance an individual?

Nigerians don’t understand civilization. They are just busy copying other civilized countries without knowing the purpose.

Another season film episode 2024!!!!