Nigerian Authorities Seek Extradition of Binance Executive Nadeem Anjarwalla from Kenya
The case of Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Binance executive charged with tax evasion in Nigeria, has taken an interesting turn as Nigerian authorities have requested Kenya to arrest and extradite him. Anjarwalla, who holds Kenyan and British citizenship, escaped detention in Nigeria on March 25 and fled to Kenya before he could be arraigned.
The request for extradition comes as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) accuses Anjarwalla and another Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, of failing to register the crypto exchange for tax purposes. FIRS alleges that Binance aided users in evading taxes through its platform, a claim that Binance and the executives have denied.
However, the extradition process could face challenges as it involves complex legal procedures. According to Kenya’s extradition laws, for Anjarwalla to be arrested, a Nigerian court must issue an arrest warrant, which should then be sent to Nairobi’s attorney general or cabinet secretary. Nigeria can also obtain a red notice through Interpol, but the process of seeking consent from a Kenyan court could take months or even years.
The case of Anjarwalla is reminiscent of other high-profile extradition cases, such as the request to send former minister Chris Okemo and ex-Kenya Power CEO Samuel Gichuru to face charges in Jersey Island, which has been ongoing since 2011. As the legal battle unfolds, it remains to be seen how the authorities in Nigeria and Kenya will navigate the complexities of extraditing Anjarwalla to face trial for the alleged tax evasion charges.
