The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, on Friday, January 9, 2026, arraigned an Austrian national, Kavlak Onal, before Justice Yelim Bogoro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, over his alleged failure to declare foreign currencies totalling $800,575 and €651,505.
Onal was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) while preparing to board an Emirates Airline flight to Dubai at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
He was intercepted during a routine check at the AML/CFT Currency Declaration Desk on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, and subsequently handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.
A statement issued by the anti-graft agency said that upon the completion of investigations, the defendant was arraigned on Friday, January 9, 2026, on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering.
Count one of the charge reads: “ That you , Mr. Kavlak Onal, on December 13th, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of $800,575 (Eight Hundred Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy Five United States Dollars) to the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport , Ikeja , Lagos and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3 (5) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition and Prevention ) Act, 2022.”
Count two reads: “That you, Mr Kavlak Onal, on the 13th December, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of €651,505(Six Hundred and Fifty One Thousand, Five Hundred and Five Euro) to the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport , Ikeja , Lagos and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3 (5) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition and Prevention ) Act, 2022.”
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.
According to the statement, following the “not guilty” plea, prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Bala Buhari, requested a trial date to enable the prosecution prove its case and also asked that the defendant be remanded in a Correctional Centre.
Defence counsel, Stanley Imhanruor, informed the court that he had filed a bail application on behalf of his client.
In response, the prosecution counsel said she was served with the bail application at 9.07 a.m. on Friday, January 9, 2026, and noted that she required time to respond.
Justice Bogoro thereafter adjourned the matter till January 16, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application.
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