Austrian man arraigned over undeclared $1.4m at Lagos Airport

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned Kavlak Onal, an Austrian citizen, for allegedly failing to declare $800,575 and €651,505 at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

Onal appeared before Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, facing a two-count charge.

The first count accused him of not declaring $800,575 to the Nigeria Customs Service during outward clearance at the airport on December 13, 2025.

The offence is punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.

The second count similarly accused him of failing to declare €651,505 to customs at the same airport on the same date, contrary to the same provision of the law.

Onal pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Following the plea, EFCC counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, informed the court that Onal was intercepted during clearance to Australia by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service’s anti-money laundering unit for allegedly attempting to leave the country with undeclared foreign currencies valued at over N2 billion.

She requested that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, pending trial.

In his defence, Sterlin Imhemuro, Onal’s lawyer, said a bail application had been filed and served on the prosecution, urging the court to remand his client with the EFCC instead of the correctional facility.

Buhari, representing the EFCC, noted that the prosecution received the bail application on the same day and required time to review it.

After hearing submissions from both parties, Justice Bogoro adjourned the case to January 16, 2026, for further hearing and the determination of the bail application.

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