Nadeem Anjarwalla, a dual British and Kenyan national and executive at Binance, was reportedly arrested in Kenya after previously fleeing Nigeria, where he faced legal issues. Reports from Kenyan news sources on April 22 indicate that local police have detained Anjarwalla and are considering his extradition to Nigeria to address criminal charges. Anjarwalla is said to have escaped from Nigerian custody on March 22, allegedly using a concealed Kenyan passport to leave the country after his UK travel documents were confiscated.
Anjarwalla had initially traveled to Nigeria in February with Tigran Gambaryan, another Binance executive, amid allegations that the cryptocurrency exchange had manipulated Nigeria’s currency, the naira. Nigerian authorities detained both men after Binance announced it would stop all transactions in the naira.
The circumstances of Anjarwalla’s escape from Nigeria remain unclear, though it is reported that he managed to board a plane from Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, using his Kenyan passport. In his absence, Nigerian authorities have proceeded with charges against Binance and Gambaryan. Anjarwalla has pleaded not guilty to charges of tax evasion and money laundering, with his case resuming in court on April 19 after a brief pause.
Meanwhile, Gambaryan’s wife has initiated a campaign to secure his return to the United States, describing him as an innocent victim caught in a larger conflict. Binance has defended Gambaryan, stating he lacks decision-making authority within the company and should not be held accountable for the company’s actions in Nigeria.
This case coincides with other legal challenges faced by Binance executives, including former CEO Changpeng Zhao, who is due for sentencing in the U.S. on April 30 after pleading guilty to a felony charge, potentially facing up to ten years in prison.
