Binance Executive Tracked to Kenya, Faces Extradition as Nigerian Government Escalates Charges

Nadeem Arjarwalla, a Binance executive, has been traced to Kenya by the Nigerian government, Interpol, and Kenyan police after he fled custody. Arjarwalla faced charges related to allegations of manipulating Nigeria's fiat currency, the Nigerian naira. He had arrived in Nigeria in February and was detained along with another Binance executive. The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria was leading the investigation and charged both executives with money laundering. Arjarwalla reportedly escaped custody on March 22 and flew out of Abuja on a Middle Eastern airline. It is uncertain how he managed to board the flight since his UK passport, used to enter Nigeria, remained with Nigerian authorities. Reports suggest he left Nigeria using a Kenyan passport, raising questions about its acquisition. Meanwhile, the other executive, Tigran Gambaryan, pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. Binance had previously announced plans to cease naira transactions amid regulatory scrutiny in Nigeria.