THIS DAWN — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, has arraigned an Austrian national, Mr. Kavlak Onal, before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, for allegedly failing to declare large sums of foreign currency in his possession.
The arraignment took place on Friday, January 9, 2026, before Justice Yelim Bogoro.
Onal was intercepted by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on December 16, 2025.
He was arrested during a routine check at the Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Currency Declaration Desk at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
He was scheduled to travel on Emirates Airline to Dubai when customs officers discovered he was carrying $800,575 and €651,505 without declaring them as required by law.
Charges Filed Against Onal
Following his arrest, Onal was handed over to the EFCC for investigation and prosecution.
Upon completion of investigations, the EFCC arraigned Onal on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering under the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.
- Count One: Failure to declare $800,575 to the Nigeria Customs Service at Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
- Count Two: Failure to declare €651,505 to the Nigeria Customs Service at the same airport.
Both counts are punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering Act.
Court Proceedings
During the arraignment, the charges were read to the defendant, who pleaded “not guilty.”
Prosecution Counsel, Bilikisu Bala Buhari, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant at a correctional centre pending trial.
Defence Counsel, Stanley Imhanruor, informed the court that a bail application had been filed on behalf of his client.
The prosecution acknowledged receipt of the bail application at 9:07 a.m. on January 9, 2026, but requested time to respond.
Justice Yelim Bogoro adjourned the case to January 16, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application.
The defendant remains in custody pending the court’s decision.
Nigeria’s Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022, requires individuals traveling with cash or negotiable instruments above a specified threshold to declare them to the Nigeria Customs Service.
Failure to comply constitutes an offence punishable by law.
The EFCC has emphasized that strict enforcement of these provisions is critical to curbing illicit financial flows, money laundering, and terrorism financing.
Implications
This case underscores Nigeria’s heightened vigilance against financial crimes at its borders.
The arrest and arraignment of a foreign national carrying undeclared sums highlight the government’s commitment to enforcing anti-money laundering laws.
Observers note that the outcome of the trial will serve as a precedent for similar cases, reinforcing Nigeria’s stance on transparency in financial transactions.
The arraignment of Austrian national Kavlak Onal for failing to declare over $800,000 and €650,000 at Lagos Airport marks another significant case in Nigeria’s fight against financial crimes.
With the defendant pleading not guilty, the stage is set for a legal battle.
The case will test the robustness of Nigeria’s anti-money laundering framework.
The next hearing on January 16, 2026, will determine whether Onal secures bail or remains in custody as the trial proceeds.
