By Micah Jonah
January 9, 2026
An Austrian national, Kavlak Onal, has been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over allegations that he failed to declare large sums of foreign currency while attempting to leave Nigeria.
Onal appeared before Justice Yelim Bogoro on Friday following his arrest at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja. He was scheduled to board an Emirates Airlines flight to Dubai when operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service stopped him during a routine check at the Anti Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism currency declaration desk.
According to authorities, Onal was found with $800,575 and €651,505, which he allegedly failed to declare as required under Nigerian law. He was subsequently handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation and prosecution.
After investigations were concluded, the EFCC arraigned him on a two count charge bordering on money laundering, under the Money Laundering Prohibition and Prevention Act 2022. The charges relate to the alleged failure to declare the dollar and euro sums to customs officials at the airport.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to both counts when they were read in open court.
Following the plea, prosecution counsel Bilikisu Bala Buhari asked the court to fix a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility, pending the hearing of the case. Defence counsel, Stanley Imhanruor informed the court that a bail application had been filed on behalf of his client.
The prosecution told the court that the bail application was only served earlier on Friday morning and requested time to respond.
Justice Bogoro adjourned the matter until January 16, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application.
