The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has brought an Austrian citizen, Kavlak Onal, before the Federal High Court in Lagos over his alleged failure to declare foreign currencies totalling $800,575 and €651,505, an amount valued at about ₦2.28 billion.
Addressing the court, EFCC prosecutor Bilikisu Buhari told Justice Yellim Bogoro that Onal was intercepted at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service Anti-Money Laundering Unit.
According to the prosecution, the large sums of foreign currency were discovered in his possession during routine checks.
Buhari explained that the defendant is facing a two-count charge under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022, which prescribes punishment for failure to declare foreign currencies at Nigeria’s entry or exit points.
When the charges were read in open court by the registrar, Onal denied the allegations and entered a plea of not guilty to both counts. Following the plea, the prosecutor asked the court to set a trial date and order that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services pending the commencement of trial.
In response, defence counsel Sterlin Imhemuro informed the court that a formal bail application had already been filed on behalf of the defendant and served on the prosecution. He requested that his client be held in EFCC custody until the bail application could be heard and determined.
Acknowledging the bail request, Buhari confirmed that the prosecution received the application at about 9:03am and asked the court for a brief adjournment to study the documents and file an appropriate response.
After considering the submissions of both parties, Justice Bogoro adjourned the matter to January 16 for the hearing of the bail application. The judge also ordered that Onal be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services pending the bail proceedings.
According to the charge, the defendant allegedly failed to declare the sums of $800,575 and €651,505 upon arrival at the airport, an act the EFCC said contravenes provisions of the Money Laundering Act.
What you should know
Under Nigerian law, travellers are required to declare any foreign currency exceeding approved thresholds when entering or leaving the country, a measure aimed at combating money laundering and terrorism financing.
The EFCC frequently works with the Nigeria Customs Service to enforce these regulations at international airports. Failure to declare such funds is treated as a serious financial crime, regardless of nationality.
Cases like this often test the effectiveness of Nigeria’s anti-money laundering framework and signal the government’s intent to scrutinise cross-border cash movements closely.
