Legal Action Unfolds After Binance Executive's Escape

The Nigerian federal government is collaborating with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to extradite the Binance executive who escaped from custody in the country, according to reports from local media. According to a government source cited in the local newspaper "Punch," the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria is "collaborating" with INTERPOL, the FBI, as well as the British and Kenyan governments to secure the arrest and extradition of Anjarwalla.

A second, unspecified source stated that the extradition aims to bring Anjarwalla back to Nigeria to face "money laundering charges" after he escaped from custody and left the country last month.

Initially, Anjarwalla and Gambaryan were not charged with any offenses. They were detained for 14 days upon the EFCC's request under a court order; a subsequent hearing in mid-March resulted in an extension of their detention.

As part of the investigation into cryptocurrency exchanges, Nigeria has demanded information from Binance regarding its top 100 users in the country and their transaction histories from the past six months.

Anjarwalla's Escape from Nigeria Anjarwalla escaped from custody on March 22 after guards took him to a nearby mosque for Ramadan prayers. The executive, holding dual British and Kenyan citizenship, relinquished his British passport but likely used his Kenyan passport to board a "Middle Eastern liner."

On the same day, the Nigerian Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) charged Binance with tax evasion, as well as Anjarwalla and Gambaryan.

Following Anjarwalla's escape from custody, on March 28, the EFCC accused Binance Holdings Limited, Anjarwalla, and Gambaryan of laundering $35.4 million. The Federal High Court in Abuja is set to charge Binance, Anjarwalla, and Gambaryan this Thursday; according to "Punch," the EFCC took over the case from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and arrested Gambaryan.

Gambaryan sued the Nigerian government for violating his fundamental human rights, claiming that his passport's detention was inconsistent with the country's constitution. He also sought for the ONSA and EFCC to be compelled to apologize for his arrest.

* This is not a financial advice