FG, Interpol perfecting documents to extradite fleeing Binance executive - EFCC
…as American School refunds $720,000 fees paid by Yahaya Bello
THE Federal Government working in collaboration with relevant international agencies, including the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL), is perfecting documents to extradite Nadeem Anjarwalla, the fleeing Binance regional manager for Africa from Kenya to continue his trial in Nigeria.
Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), who confirmed this to Businessday, on Friday, said: “You know that this is an international issue that affects countries, Interpol and international laws.
Anjarwalla, a Britishkenyan, a suspect in the ongoing criminal probe into the activities of Binance in Nigeria escaped from lawful custody on Friday, March 22, and was subsequently found in Kenya.
“You know that this is an international issue that affects both countries as well as INTERPOL and international laws.
“But we are aware that the relevant security agencies, the Federal Ministry of Justice and the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) are working to perfect all necessary documents for his extradition.
“As soon as these processes are complete, he would be brought back to Nigeria to answer for his crimes, Oyewale told Businessday on Friday.
Meanwhile, there were indications at the weekend that the American International School, Abuja, has begun the refund of the $720,000 school fees paid by former
Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello for his children.
The school had earlier written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, asking for an “authentic bank” into which the money would be paid, as the school undertook to refund the fees.
The EFCC had accused Bello of taking the money out of the state government account to settle the fees for five of his children in advance.
The embattled governor is standing trial for allegedly misappropriating over N80 billion belonging to the state government in the past eight years.
The EFCC spokesman told Businessday on Friday, that the anti-graft agency has submitted the account to the school, adding that the “school has made some payments into the account.
“We are aware that the school has declared that it is ready to begin the refund and they have made some payments.”
Oyewale added that “the money is not being paid to the EFCC, it is being paid into a Federal Government account and only the operators of the account can say how much has been paid so far.”
Bello is being prosecuted alongside Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80.246 billion.
Ola Olukoyede, the EFCC chairman, has vowed to ensure that the former Kogi governor is prosecuted, for money laundering offences and other crimes committed while in office.