Tag: Anjarwalla

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, dismissed a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by fleeing Binance Holdings Ltd’s executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, against the National Security Adviser and EFCC.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling, dismissed the suit for lack of diligent prosecution.

When the case was called, no lawyer appeared for Anjarwalla and neither was the applicant in court.

In a short ruling, Justice Ekwo noted that on March 28 when the matter came up, Tonye Krukrubo, SAN, who appeared for Anjarwalla sought a leave to withdraw his appearance in the matter and the application was granted.

He said the matter was adjourned until today for mention but no lawyer appeared for the applicant.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Anjarwalla, the Binance’s Africa regional manager, had filed a separate right enforcement suit alongside his colleague, Tigran Gambaryan, against NSA and EFCC seeking an order releasing them from detention.

However, Anjarwalla escaped from lawful custody on March 22 and fled to Kenya.

Anjarwalla and Gambaryan’s suits were filed before Justice Ekwo.

In the suits marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/355/24 and FHC/ABJ/CS/356/24 respectively, the duo sued the Office of NSA (ONSA) and EFCC as 1st and 2nd respondents.

They had sought same reliefs.

Read Also: Interpol: process to extradite fleeing Binance executive Anjarwalla ongoing

Anjarwalla and Gambaryan, a US citizen overseeing financial crime compliance at the crypto exchange platform, in their separate applications, sought a declaration that their detention and seizure of their international travel passport, contravened Section 35 (1) and (4) of 1999 Constitution (As Amended).

They said the act amounted to a violation of his fundamental right to personal liberty as guaranteed by the constitution, among others.

Meanwhile, Justice Ekwo fixed July 9 for hearing of Gambaryan’s suit.

The judge fixed the date after Gambaryan’s lawyer, Krukrubo, moved a motion seeking to amend their originating process.

Although EFCC’s lawyer, Olarewanju Adeola, opposed the motion, the judge held that parties, by law, were entitled to amend their processes before judgment.

“I am minded to grant this amendment,” he said.

However, Gambaryan was fined a N50, 000 cost in favour of the EFCC, having joined issues in the matter.

Justice Ekwo, who held that the fine must be paid before the next adjourned date, fixed July 9 for hearing of the preliminary objection and the substantive matter.

(NAN)

The Vice President of the Africa Executive Committee of International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), Garba Umar, has assured Nigerians that fleeing Binance Executive Nadeem Anjarwalla will be fished out and extradited to the country to face tax evasion charges levelled against him and his colleagues.

Umar gave the assurance while featuring on a Channels Television programme yesterday.

The Interpol chief said work had begun on the paper works for Anjarwalla’s extradition to Nigeria.

He explained that there are processes that a country must follow to get a fugitive, adding that wherever he is, Anjarwalla would be smoked out.

Umar 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. The process is ongoing, and Nadeem is not an exception.

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“Rest assured, we have all the cooperation and we are working on it. Definitely, one day, he will be brought to justice. It’s just a matter of time. We have done all the paper works.”

When asked if the fleeing Binance executive would be brought back to Nigeria to face trial, the Interpol chief 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 Federal Government had reportedly traced Anjarwalla to Kenya where he is said to be hiding after escaping from custody in Nigeria.

On March 25, one of the two executives of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange who were arrested in Nigeria, escaped the custody of the country’s security operatives.

It was said that Anjarwalla, 38, fled 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 Ramadan fast at the time.