EFCC Opposes Adjournment in Trial of Austrian National Over Undeclared $800,575, €651,505 at Lagos Airport

EFCC Opposes Adjournment in Trial of Austrian National Over Undeclared $800,575, €651,505 at Lagos Airport

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday opposed an application seeking adjournment in the trial of an Austrian national, Kavlak Onal, who was arrested for allegedly failing to declare $800,575 and €651,505 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

Onal, who was scheduled to travel to Dubai aboard Emirates Airline, was intercepted by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service during a routine check at the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism Currency Declaration Desk in December 2025.

Following investigations, he was 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, the defendant allegedly failed to declare the sums of $800,575 and €651,505 to the Nigeria Customs Service, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, defence counsel Omon Omofona informed the court that the lead counsel was attending to another matter in a different court and requested an adjournment.

However, prosecution counsel Bilikisu Buhari opposed the application, noting that accelerated hearing had earlier been granted in the matter.

“The witness is on official assignment but left his duty post to be here. This is a criminal trial, and the image of the country is also at stake,” Buhari told the court.

While acknowledging the prosecution’s arguments, the defence urged the court to grant the request in the interest of fair hearing.

In her ruling, Justice Bogoro directed that proceedings should continue, stating that counsel present in court should take note of the proceedings and brief the lead counsel accordingly.

The prosecution subsequently called its second witness, Sani Ibrahim, an operative of the Nigerian Immigration Service attached to the Lagos airport.

The witness told the court that he met the defendant in December 2025 after a colleague requested assistance in escorting him into the departure hall because he appeared ill.

According to him, the defendant was later taken to the Aviation Security screening point, where suspicious items were detected in his luggage.

“He said they were medicines and other personal belongings, but he did not mention that he had money inside the bag,” the witness testified.

He further stated that Customs officers later asked the defendant whether he had any currency to declare, to which he responded in the negative before a search allegedly revealed large sums of foreign currency hidden inside the luggage.

Justice Bogoro subsequently adjourned the case until July 13, 2026, for the cross-examination of the prosecution witness.

EFCC Opposes Adjournment in Trial of Austrian National Over Undeclared $800,575, €651,505 at Lagos Airport