An Austrian national, Mr Kavlak Onal, was on Friday arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, over alleged failure to declare large sums of foreign currency while attempting to leave Nigeria.
Justice Yellim Bogoro presided over the proceedings following a two-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.
According to the EFCC, the defendant allegedly failed to declare the sums of 800,575 United States dollars and 651,505 euros during an outbound screening at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
The commission said the offence was committed on Dec. 13, 2025, contrary to Section 3(5) of the Act, which mandates travellers to declare foreign currencies above the approved threshold.
Investigations revealed that the undeclared cash, valued at about N2.28 billion based on prevailing exchange rates, was discovered during routine checks at the airport’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Currency Declaration Desk.
Customs officials reportedly intercepted Onal while he was preparing to board an Emirates Airlines flight to Dubai.
The prosecution stated that the defendant initially denied carrying any amount of foreign currency requiring declaration before the cash was uncovered during further checks.
Following the discovery, officials of the Nigeria Customs Service handed over the suspect, his travel documents and the recovered funds to the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate for further investigation and prosecution.
The case, according to the EFCC, underscores ongoing collaboration between law enforcement agencies to curb illicit financial flows through Nigerian borders.
Nigeria’s financial regulations require all travellers entering or exiting the country to declare any foreign currency exceeding 10,000 dollars or its equivalent.
Failure to comply with the requirement constitutes a criminal offence under the country’s anti-money laundering laws.
At the hearing, counsel to the defendant applied for his remand in the custody of the EFCC, pending the filing and hearing of a formal bail application.
Justice Bogoro adjourned the matter to a later date, while the issue of bail is yet to be determined.
The EFCC said investigations into the source and intended use of the funds are ongoing and that the case will be pursued in accordance with the law.
The development comes amid increased monitoring of cash movements at Nigerian airports, following a series of similar interceptions in recent months.
