The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought an Austrian national before a Federal High Court in Lagos over accusations that he attempted to travel out of Nigeria with a large sum of undeclared foreign currency.
Court Arraignment and Charges
On Thursday, Kavlak Onal was presented before Justice Yellim Bogoro at the Federal High Court in Lagos. The prosecution, led by Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, filed a two-count charge against him. The charges center on his alleged failure to declare foreign currencies totaling $800,575 and €651,505 to the Nigeria Customs Service.
According to the EFCC, this amount is equivalent to approximately N2.28 billion. The alleged offence is said to contravene Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.
The Alleged Airport Incident
The prosecution informed the court that the incident occurred on December 13. Onal was undergoing outward clearance at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, with a destination to Australia.
Officials from the Anti-Money Laundering Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) reportedly arrested him at the airport after discovering he was in possession of the substantial foreign currencies without declaring them as required by law.
Court Proceedings and Bail Application
When the charges were read to him in court, Kavlak Onal pleaded not guilty to both counts. Following his plea, the prosecution counsel requested the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) until his trial.
However, the defence team, led by Sterlin Imhemuro and Temilehin Olushola, countered this request. They informed Justice Bogoro that a formal bail application had already been filed on behalf of their client and served to the prosecution.
The defence lawyers urged the court to instead remand Onal in EFCC custody while the bail request was being considered. In response, the prosecutor, Mrs. Buhari, confirmed receiving the bail application and asked for a short adjournment to review it and prepare a formal response.
After listening to arguments from both sides, Justice Bogoro adjourned the case to January 16 specifically for the hearing of the bail application. The judge ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Service until the bail application is determined.
The specific charges state that on December 13 in Lagos, Onal failed to declare $800,575 (Count One) and €651,505 (Count Two) to customs officials at MMIA, acts punishable under the current Money Laundering Act.
