The Vice President of INTERPOL (Africa) Executive Committee, Garba Umar, made this known on Channels Television’s programme on Tuesday, noting that the paper works for Anjarwalla to be returned to Nigeria had commenced.
The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has assured that the fleeing crypto executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, will be smoked out and extradited to Nigeria to face tax evasion charges levelled against him and his colleagues.
The Vice President of INTERPOL (Africa) Executive Committee, Garba Umar, made this known on Channels Television’s programme on Tuesday, noting that the paper works for Anjarwalla to be returned to Nigeria had commenced.
Garba Umar explained that if a fugitive escapes, there are processes in which the country will follow, adding that wherever he is, he will be smoked out.
He said; “INTERPOL will only give information, assist them and inform them about the bilateral agreements and conventions that were signed to extradite a fleeing fugitive and the process is ongoing and Nadeem is not an exception."
“Be rest assured, we have all the cooperation and we are working on it and definitely, one day, he will be brought to justice, it’s just a matter of time. We have done all the paper works,” Umar stated.
When asked whether the fleeing Binance executive would be returned to Nigeria to face trial, he said, “Yeah, once a red notice is issued, we circulate to all member countries within the 196 including where the fugitive is suspected to be hiding.
“Now, it is not only morally right but it is legally right for the country to get him apprehended, inform the requesting country that ‘the fugitive you are looking for has been apprehended and is in our custody. Can you come and take him over?’
“This is the process. He may be in Kenya, he may be in hiding, he might have even left Kenya but because of the notices we have given, wherever he is, he will be smoked out.”
The Nigerian government had reportedly traced fleeing Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, to Kenya, where he is hiding after escaping from custody.
SaharaReporters reported on March 25 that one of the two executives of Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange who were arrested in Nigeria had escaped the custody of the country’s security operatives.
It was said that Anjarwalla, 38, fled from the Abuja guest home where he and his colleague were detained on Friday, March 22, when guards took him to a nearby mosque for prayers because of the ongoing Ramadan fast.
According to insiders, there is a likelihood that Anjarwalla, who also has Kenyan citizenship, flew out of Abuja on a Middle East airliner.
SaharaReporters also reported that the Nigerian government, subsequently, contacted the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) and issued an arrest warrant for the apprehension of Anjarwalla.
With the new discovery, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the International Criminal Police, the Nigeria Police Force and the Kenyan Police Service are in talk on extradition of Anjarwalla.
Citing sources in the Presidency who are on top of the case, the Binance chief went into hiding immediately after he landed in Kenya.
“We have found him. We know where he is. He is in Kenya, and we’re working with the authorities to bring him back to Nigeria," the report quoted one of the sources to have said.
Another source also close to the matter, corroborated the first source’s statement.
The source noted, “All hands are on the deck. The government and all the security agencies are working hard in conjunction with the Kenyan authorities and INTERPOL, to ensure his return to Nigeria to face the charges brought against him.”