RismadarVoice Reporters
May 12, 2026
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday opposed an application seeking adjournment in the ongoing trial of an Austrian national accused of failing to declare large sums of foreign currency at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The defendant, Kavlak Onal, was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in December 2025 after allegedly failing to declare $800,575 and €651,505 while preparing to board an Emirates Airline flight to Dubai.
Following his arrest, he was handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and later arraigned before Justice Yelim Bogoro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering.
According to the charges, Onal allegedly failed to declare the foreign currencies to the Nigeria Customs Service as required under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, defence counsel, Omon Omofona, informed the court that the lead counsel was engaged in another matter and requested an adjournment.
However, prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, opposed the application, reminding the court that an accelerated hearing had already been granted in the case.
“The witness is on official assignment but left his duty post to be here,” Buhari said, adding that the matter involved criminal allegations with implications for the image of the country.
Justice Bogoro subsequently ruled that proceedings should continue, directing the counsel present in court to take note of the proceedings and brief the lead counsel.
The EFCC thereafter presented its second prosecution witness, Sani Ibrahim, an operative of the Nigerian Immigration Service attached to the Lagos airport.
Led in evidence by the prosecution, Ibrahim told the court that he encountered the defendant in December 2025 after being informed by a colleague about a passenger travelling to Dubai who reportedly appeared ill.
According to the witness, he assisted the defendant through airport procedures after collecting his passport and boarding pass.
He said the defendant requested to be taken to the airport lounge because he was unwell.
The witness further testified that the defendant’s luggage raised suspicion during security screening at the Aviation Security (AVSEC) checkpoint.
“After the bag was scanned, AVSEC personnel discovered suspicious items inside the bag,” Ibrahim told the court.
He said when questioned, the defendant claimed the bag contained medicines and personal belongings but did not disclose that it also contained cash.
The witness added that he later escorted the defendant to Customs officials for a routine currency declaration, where the defendant allegedly denied carrying any declarable funds.
According to him, Customs officers later discovered an envelope containing United States dollars during a search of the luggage, leading to a more detailed examination.
“In the process, they discovered a huge amount of money, the likes of which I had never seen in my life,” the witness said.
The court heard that the defendant was subsequently taken to the Customs office and asked to make a written statement.
Justice Bogoro adjourned the matter until July 13, 2026, for cross-examination of the second prosecution witness.
