EFCC Files $35 Million Money Laundering Charges Against Binance, Initiates Steps To Extradite Escaped Executive
AFOLABICryptocurrency exchange platform, Binance Holdings Limited alongside two of its senior executives, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, have been slammed with charges of $35,400,000 in money laundering, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The EFCC, having taken over the case from the Office of the National Security Adviser, has detained Gambaryan and secured a court warrant for the arrest and extradition of Anjarwalla, who has escaped.
The anti-graft commission is collaborating with the International Criminal Police Organisation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States, the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Kenyan government to arrest and extradite Anjarwalla.
The EFCC has pressed five-count charges related to money laundering against Binance and two of its executives, Anjarwalla and Gambaryan, after taking over the investigation into the alleged financial irregularities attributed to the cryptocurrency giant.
According to court documents obtained by The Punch correspondent, the charges were filed on Thursday, March 28, 2024, before the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja division.
The charges read, “That you, Binance Holdings Limited (“aka Binance”) Tigran Gambaryan, and Nadeem Anjarwalla (now at large), between January, 2023 and January, 2024 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court carried on specialised business of other financial institution without valid licence and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 57(1) and (2) of the Banks and Other Financial, Institutions Act, 2020 and punishable under section 57(5) of the same Act.
“Count two, that you, Binance Holdings Limited (“aka Binance”) Tigran Gambaryan, and Nadeem Anjarwalla (now at large), between January, 2022 and January, 2024 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court engaged in business of other financial institution (other than insurance, stock broking and pension fund management) without valid licence and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 58(5) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020.
“Count three, that you, Binance Holdings Limited (“aka Binance”), between January, 2022 and January, 2024 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, not being an authorised dealer in Nigeria’s Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market used your virtual asset services platform to unlawfully negotiate foreign exchange rates in Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 29(1) (c) of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring And Miscellaneous Provisions) Act.
“Count four, that you, Binance Holdings Limited (“aka Binance”) Tigran Gambaryan, and Nadeem Anjarwalla (now at large), and other persons at large between January, 2023 and January, 2024 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to conceal the origin of the proceeds of your unlawful activities and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 21 (a) and punishable under section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“Count five, that you, Binance Holdings Limited (“aka Binance”) Tigran Gambaryan, and Nadeem Anjarwalla between January, 2023 and December, 2023 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court concealed the origin of a cumulative sum of $35,400, 000 generated as revenue by Binance in Nigeria knowing that the funds constituted proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Recall that the Federal Government, on Monday, reached out to the International Criminal Police Organisation and issued an arrest warrant for Nadeem Anjarwalla, one of the detained executives of the global cryptocurrency firm Binance, who had escaped from lawful custody on Friday.
Meanwhile, Binance Executive, Tigran Gambaryan, had sued the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged violation of his fundamental rights.
Gambaryan, in the originating motion dated and filed March 18 by his lawyer, Olujoke Aliyu, from Aluko and Oyebode Law Firm, sought five reliefs before Justice Inyang Ekwo.
Also, Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Binance’s Africa regional manager who escaped from lawful custody March 22, filed a separate right enforcement suit before Justice Ekwo.
Famous stand-up comedian AY Makun has unveiled the stunning reconstruction of his Lagos mansion, which was previously ravaged by fire months ago.
The fire incident, reported by Tribune Online in August 2023, had shocked fans and the entertainment industry.
At the time of the fire incident, AY and his family were reportedly on vacation abroad, ensuring their safety.
Although the cause of the fire remained unknown, images circulated online showed the roof engulfed in flames.
However, moving beyond the setback, the father of two proudly showcased his newly renovated Lagos mansion, which has been beautifully restored following the fire incident.
Taking to Facebook, AY shared a video showcasing the immaculately refurbished mansion, which appears to be even more stunning than its previous state.
Alongside the video, AY expressed gratitude, writing, “Whom God has blessed, no man can curse. We give God all the Glory.”
It Is Time To Tell The World The Truth About Mohbad's Death - Primeboy Files Petition Against Wunmi
AFOLABINigerian singer, Ibrahim Owodunni, also known as Primeboy, has filed a petition against Wunmi, the widow of late Afrobeats star, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
This comes after Wunmi, during an Instagram live session on Thursday, alleged that Mohabd’s father, Joseph Aloba, is associating with those who bullied her husband 24 hours before his demise.
Recall that Primeboy, a friend of Mohbad, is the prime suspect in the circumstances surrounding the death of the 27-year-old singer.
Taking to his Instagram page on Friday, Primeboy shared a copy of the petition filed against Wunmi.
Although the content of the petition was blurry, the afro singer, in the caption that accompanied the post, urged Wunmi to tell the world the truth about her husband’s death.
He wrote, “I told you to stop mentioning my Name…… You didn’t stop……. Now It is the time to tell the whole World the truth you said you know about what kill your boyfriend (Mohbad)….. Or you face the Music!!!!!!!….”
Reports have surfaced revealing that Abby Hensel, one-half of the famous conjoined twin duo who gained fame through a reality show, has been secretly married for three years.
Abby Hensel, aged 34 and hailing from Minnesota, tied the knot with nurse and army veteran Josh Bowling in 2021, according to public records obtained by news outlet TODAY.
Abby and Brittany Hensel are widely recognised as America’s most prominent conjoined twins, having garnered attention through their own reality show on TLC.
Born in 1990, the twins share two heads, two hearts, and two sets of lungs, but possess separate bodies from the waist up.
Remarkably, each twin controls her respective half of the body, allowing for impressive coordination. Despite their unique condition, the twins have led remarkable lives, achieving milestones such as obtaining education degrees and working as fifth-grade teachers.
News of Abby’s marriage surfaced after a TikTok account under the handle @abbyandbrittanyhensel shared a celebratory clip, and the Facebook account Britt And Abby posted a photo of the couple.
The wedding ceremony, held in 2021, featured Abby adorned in a lace-trimmed sleeveless wedding dress and the groom dressed in a grey suit.
The twins currently reside in Minnesota, their home state, and were raised by a nurse and a carpenter parent.
The Hensel twins are classified as dicephalic parapagus, meaning they are fused side-by-side with two heads. They share numerous organs, including two spines, two hearts, and partially shared nervous systems.
Despite their shared anatomy, they have undergone surgeries to correct medical issues, including the removal of a partly-formed third arm at the age of 12 and corrective procedures for spine curvature and breathing difficulties.
Since captivating global attention in 1996 with appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Life Magazine’s cover, the twins have mostly led quiet lives in Minnesota, shying away from media attention until starring in a TLC documentary at the age of 16.
Wunmi has replied her father-in-law over his demand for a DNA test to be conducted on late Mohbad's son Liam.
The widow of the late Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad urged the father of the deceased, Joseph Aloba to get a court order for the DNA test.
Recall that there have been calls by Mohbad’s father, and some concerned Nigerians for a DNA test to be conducted on the late singer’s son, Liam, to ascertain his true paternity.
Wunmi had previously said she was open for a DNA test on her son, demanding that it should be conducted both in Nigeria and abroad.
However, in a recent series of Instagram posts, Mohbad’s widow cried out for help, claiming that she and Liam were being threatened.
“Nigerians I and Liam are at your mercy! Are you going to allow what happened to ilerioluwa happen to us?
“They are threatening us daily, they have taken our freedom from us! Nigerians help us,” she wrote.
She further disclosed that Mohbad’s father had pressured them into having a child and wondered why he is requesting a DNA test now.
“I never wanted to have a baby at that time but baba told Mohbad and I the holy spirit told him I should get him a grandson who would buy the coffin that would bury him.
“I got to know I was pregnant 5th of August same year, my father in-law was so ecstatic over the news of my pregnancy.
“Why is he trying to defame the treasure his son left behind?” She queried.
She, however, stated her willingness to carry out the DNA test, and urged her father-in-law to get a court order.
“Go and get court order cos it’s time I put my enemies to shame”, Wunmi wrote.
Suspected hoodlums have set ablaze the Neni Police station in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra state.
Armed assailants also allegedly ignited flames at the Anaocha Local Government Headquarters, chanting hostile songs directed at the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).
A few days earlier, gunmen had attacked the Awgbu police station, resulting in the deaths of two officers, while another narrowly escaped.
According to sources, the assault on the local government headquarters occurred between 3 am and 4 am today (Thursday).
Our correspondent equally gathered that the hoodlums whisked away some police operatives, including female police personnel at the police station.
The source said the hoodlums alleged that Anaocha Police Station had become another SARS station.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Anambra state police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed the incident.
He stated that though the hoodlums attacked the police station with IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), they however, did not take away any arms, and did not whisk away any police personnel.
He said the hoodlums were successfully repelled by the superior firepower of the police operatives who engaged them and forced them to flee.
He further said the police operations were still ongoing in the area as of the time he was reacting to the development.
He promised to communicate further developments on the incident later.
On the killing of the policemen at Awgbu police station by the gunmen, he refused to react to it, but a senior officer confirmed it to The Nation.
The source said the command was on the trail of the hoodlums, adding, “They want to scare those ready for the Easter holidays, but we are ready for them.”
A resident, who preferred anonymity, informed The Nation that gunmen had been conducting operations in several villages unknown to many, suggesting that Anambra was not as secure as some had assumed.
Former Italy international, Fabrizio Ravanelli, has insisted that Napoli will struggle to find a suitable replacement for Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen is expected to leave the reigning Serie A champions at the end of the season.
Premier League giants Chelsea and Arsenal as well as Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly interested in the reigning African Footballer of The Year.
Ravanelli, who labelled the Nigerian as one of the best forwards in the world believed it will be difficult for the Partenopei to replace him.
“Osimhen is among the best strikers in the world. He has incredible ferocity and is not afraid of anything. It will not be easy for Napoli to replace him”, Ravanelli said per Napoli Magazine.
Osimhen played a crucial role in Napoli’s Scudetto success last season.
The 25-year-old scored 26 goals in 32 league appearances to help the Partenopei win the title for the first time in over three decades.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched an investigation after discovering 20 young women who are suspected to have been associated with Madzibaba Ishmael, a religious leader, at a clandestine location in Marimba, Harare.
These women were reportedly taken from Madzibaba Ishmael’s shrine in Nyabira, raising concerns about their well-being and the circumstances surrounding their presence in the hideout.
The authorities are probing the situation to determine the reasons behind their relocation and ensure their safety. It’s unclear at this stage how the women ended up in the hideout or if they were held against their will.
Madzibaba Ishmael, whose name is associated with a notorious religious cult is likely to be central to the investigation as the authorities seek to understand the connections between him and the women found in the hideout.
Further details regarding the conditions of the women and the motives behind their relocation are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
[ZWNEWS]
A newly wedded wife, Amina Abashe, allegedly poured boiling water on her husband, Shehu Abdullahi, following a disagreement over her frequent phone calls with other men.
The incident happened in Kontangora Local Government Area of Niger State.
The husband, Abdullahi, who spoke with Daily Trust, from his hospital bed at the Kontagora General Hospital, said they got married two months ago after the death of his former wife.
He said his wife first attempted to stab him to death but that he was able to collect the knife from her before she went to take the water she was boiling and poured it on him.
Abdullahi explained that two months after the marriage was contracted, his wife refused to move to his house and that he went to her parents' house to complain.
He said that on Tuesday evening, the day the incident happened, his wife called him on the phone to come to their house and that right there, she told him that she was no longer interested in the marriage, saying that she had someone who would pay back his dowry.
He alleged that at that same venue, she was on the phone with a man suspected to be her boyfriend.
“At that point, I became angry and attempted to seize the phone from her and she took a knife to stab me but I was able to collect the knife from her,” he added.
The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) has announced the dates for the Finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2023/24 season.
The Finals will be played on home and away basis in May 2024.
The First Leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup will be played on Sunday, 12 May 2024. The Second Leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup will be played the following weekend, Sunday, 19 May 2024.
The TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Final First Leg will be on Saturday, 18 May 2024. The Second Leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Final will be played on Saturday, 25 May 2024.
TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Final
First Leg: Saturday, 18 May 2024
Second Leg: Saturday, 25 May 2024
TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup Final
First Leg: Sunday, 12 May 2024
Second Leg: Sunday, 19 May 2024
More...
Adebayo Shittu, a former Minister of Communications in the Muhammadu Buhari administration has described banditry as a rebellion against the neglect of the poor people in the Northern Nigeria.
Shittu stated this in an interview on Arise Television on Thursday.
He said, “What is happening in the Northwest and Northeast in particular is a rebellion against the neglect of the poor.
“Now that we have the issue of banditry on our hands, we have over the years been spending billions of naira in kinetic approach and it’s because people left out of education and civilization that Westernization brings about are rebelling.”
Shittu said the level of education was the reason why there is little or no records of banditry in the Southwest.
The former Minister said bandits are people rebelling due to lack of education.
Shittu said, “Why there is no banditry in the southwest is because we chose to educate the children.
“When you fail to educate people, over the years they will grow up to find out that the social inequality like some people enjoying light, some driving cars, and they are left out. This makes them start rebellion against the society.”
Shittu’s comment comes after his earlier advice to President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to give bandits a promising future through negotiation.
According to him, most of the bandits are able-bodied men who the Federal Government should retain.
The former Minister said a non-kinetic approach in dealing with banditry would bring about a lot of results.
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Nigeria, an international fast food restaurant chain, has issued an apology to Adebola Daniel, son of Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Ogun state, over discriminatory treatment.
In a statement on its X page on Thursday, the fast-food chain expressed deep regret for the distress experienced by the customer and pledged swift action to address the issue.
On March 27, Daniel posted on his official X page about his experience at the KFC outlet at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) branch.
According to Daniel, the restaurant had stopped him and his family from entering, stating that “no wheelchairs were allowed”.
Following his statement, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on March 28, said it had shut down KFC over discrimination against Daniel.
FAAN instructed KFC management to tender an unreserved apology, in writing, to Daniel, and a policy statement of non-discrimination be written and pasted conspicuously at its door post at MMIA before it resumed operation.
Reacting to the accusation, KFC reiterated its commitment to opposing bias or discrimination in any shape or form, with inclusivity and respect as fundamental principles of its values.
“KFC is unwavering in our stance against bias or discrimination in any form, with inclusivity and respect as non-negotiable pillars of our values,” the company said.
“However, this recent incident has underscored the pressing need for immediate action. We have embarked on efforts to address the situation.
“We deeply regret the frustration and distress experienced by our guest and extend sincere apologies to those affected.
“In response, we are urgently implementing inclusion training for all our employees. This incident is not reflective of our standards, and we will act swiftly to rectify it.
“We are actively exploring actions to equip our team members and restaurants better to ensure that every guest feels genuinely welcomed and that we deliver empathetic customer service that proactively addresses the diverse needs of each guest.”
‘FCCPC CONDEMNS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CONSUMERS’
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) condemned the discrimination against Daniel.
In a statement on Thursday, Adamu Abdullahi, FCCPC’s acting executive vice chairman (EVC) and chief executive officer (CEO), said the commission strongly condemns any form of discrimination against consumers, especially those based on disability.
Abdullahi said the commission would work with relevant authorities to ensure appropriate redress for the aggrieved consumer.
He said the commission would also ensure KFC took full responsibility for its actions.
The EVC said section 17 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) emphasises the obligation to eliminate practices detrimental to competition and consumer welfare to safeguard consumer interests.
Abdullahi said discriminatory actions, such as those witnessed at the KFC outlet, undermined their principles and would not be tolerated.
A pregnant woman, Mrs. Mmesoma Odili, from Umuosiegbo village, Umunya in Oyi local government area of Anambra State, is in a devastating mood following the loss of her pregnancy during eight days of detention at the Zone 13 Police Headquarters, Ukpo, Anambra State.
It was gathered that the police had to arrest Mmesoma when they could not lay hands on her husband over a land dispute in the area.
An indigene of the community, Mr. Jude Ikeanyionwu, who said the dispute has torn the area apart, called on the state governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, and other stakeholders in the state, to intervene in the worrisome situation before it leads to the loss of more lives.
Ikeanyionwu said: “Mmesoma’s husband is a member of the community’s vigilante group and one of those opposed to the illegal attempt to sell our communal land by some of our elders.
“When the men of Zone 13 Police came to arrest those who do not want our land to be sold since we had shared it among the various families and they could not find Mmesoma’s husband, they arrested his pregnant wife.
“For eight days she was in detention and it was during this period that she had a miscarriage and lost her three months pregnancy. The police had to let her go when she was almost dying in detention.
“The situation in our kindred now is that those who want to sell our land by force have been harassing us with police from Abuja, such that all the men in the village no longer sleep in their houses for fear of arrest.
“We have no other land, which was why a decision was taken to share the large expanse with the various families, which has been done. It is, therefore, surprising that my uncle, who was chairman of the kindred, insisted on selling the land when we and our children have no other land to lay hands on.”
The wanted traditional ruler of Ewu kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, HRM Clement Ikolo Oghenerukevwe has surrendered his self to police in the state over the killing of 17 Soldiers in the Okuama Community.
The monarch was declared wanted along side the president general of Ewu, Prof Ekpekpo Arthur and six others over the alleged killing of 17 soldiers by the Defence Headquarters of the Nigerian Army.
Though, the report was sketchy, it was learned the the Monarch held a Press Conference briefing before submitting himself to the police.
According to a statement by the traditional in the briefing, “I am very surprised that my name as the monarch of the kingdom will appear in the list of wanted persons.
“I have no hand in the killings, I have no hand in encouraging anybody to kill anybody, it is against my philosophy as a human being and my faith as a Catholic.
“It is a serious crime against humanity and they need to look at the appropriate places and do thorough investigation to know all those who has committed this and bring them to bookans let justice prevail.
“I am not a party to this and like I have said earlier, the state government is aware of the turbulence I have been going through and as I speak, an arrangement was made by the government to invite the opponents recently just before this happenings.
“To invite those who are fighting me in the kingdom to reconcile the differences and allow me to go into the kingdom and start to rule as the monarch of the place.
“I have not being able to set up anything, I have not been able to set up my traditional council, I have done nothing in the kingdom.
“So I barely know anything right now, I have no information, I know nothing Iam only just in the process of set up a structure to enable me rule in the kingdom.”