EFCC Drags Austrian Man to Court Over Undeclared $800,575, €651,505 at MMIA

EFCC Drags Austrian Man to Court Over Undeclared $800,575, €651,505 at MMIA

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, on Friday arraigned an Austrian national, Kavlak Onal, before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, over his alleged failure to declare foreign currencies totalling $800,575 and €651,505 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

Onal was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) while attempting to board an Emirates Airline flight to Dubai. He was intercepted during a routine screening at the AML/CFT Currency Declaration Desk on December 16, 2025, and subsequently handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.

According to a statement by the anti-graft agency, investigations revealed that the defendant allegedly failed to declare the large sums of foreign currency, leading to his arraignment on Friday, January 9, 2026, on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.

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The charges stated that Onal failed to declare $800,575 and €651,505 to the Nigeria Customs Service at the international airport, offences punishable under Section 3(5) of the Act.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to both counts when the charges were read to him.

Following the plea, prosecution counsel Bilikisu Bala Buhari requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial. Defence counsel Stanley Imhanruor, however, informed the court that a bail application had been filed on behalf of the defendant.

The prosecution said it was served with the bail application on the morning of the arraignment and requested time to respond. Justice Yelim Bogoro subsequently adjourned the case until January 16, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application.

EFCC Drags Austrian Man to Court Over Undeclared $800,575, €651,505 at MMIA