EFCC Arraigns Austrian National Over Undeclared $800,575 and €651,505 at Lagos Airport

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned an Austrian national, Kavlak Onal, before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over alleged failure to declare large sums of foreign currency at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja. The case highlights EFCC s ongoing enforcement of anti-money laundering regulations at its international gateways.

Onal was brought before Justice Yelim Bogoro on Friday, January 9, 2026, following his arrest by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) during a routine screening exercise at the airport. He is accused of failing to declare a total of $800,575 and €651,505 while attempting to travel out of the country.

The EFCC stated that the arraignment followed the completion of investigations into the matter, which borders on alleged violations of Nigeria’s money laundering laws.

Arrest at Lagos Airport and Transfer to EFCC

According to court documents, the defendant was intercepted on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Currency Declaration Desk at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Onal was scheduled to depart Nigeria on an Emirates Airline flight bound for Dubai when customs officials allegedly discovered the undeclared foreign currencies in his possession.

Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service subsequently arrested him for violating currency declaration requirements. Following preliminary procedures, he was handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 took over the case, conducting investigations that led to the filing of formal charges against the defendant under the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.

Charges and Plea Before the Court

Onal was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering. In the first count, EFCC prosecutors alleged that he failed to declare the sum of $800,575 to the Nigeria Customs Service at the airport, an offence punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.

The second count accused him of similarly failing to declare €651,505 at the same airport on the same date, also contrary to the provisions of the Act. The EFCC maintained that both offences fall within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.

When the charges were read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty to both counts, prompting the court to move the matter forward to the next procedural stage.

Bail Application and Adjournment

Following the not-guilty plea, prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Bala Buhari, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial. She stated that the prosecution was prepared to prove its case against the accused.

Defence counsel, Stanley Imhanruor, informed the court that a bail application had been filed on behalf of his client. In response, the prosecution noted that it had only been served with the bail application at about 9:07 a.m. on the same day and requested additional time to study and respond to it.

Justice Yelim Bogoro subsequently adjourned the case to January 16, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application, while the matter remains pending before the court.