The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, on Friday, January 9, 2026, arraigned an Austrian national, Kavlak Onal, before the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, over an alleged failure to declare large sums of foreign currency at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

Onal, who was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), was charged before Justice Yelim Bogoro on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering.

According to the EFCC, the defendant was intercepted on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, while preparing to travel on an Emirates Airline flight to Dubai. He was stopped during a routine check at the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Currency Declaration Desk at the airport, where he allegedly failed to declare $800,575 and €651,505 in his possession.

Following his arrest, Onal was handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution. Upon completion of investigations, he was formally arraigned on January 9, 2026.

One of the charges alleges that Onal failed to declare the sum of $800,575 to the Nigeria Customs Service, an offence said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022. The second count similarly accuses him of failing to declare €651,505, contrary to the same provision of the Act.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to both charges. Following his plea, the prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Bala Buhari, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial.

However, defence counsel, Stanley Imhanruor, informed the court that a bail application had been filed on behalf of the defendant. The prosecution responded that it had only been served with the application earlier that morning and would require time to respond.

Justice Bogoro consequently adjourned the matter until January 16, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application.