EFCC Presents First Witness in Trial of Austrian Over Undeclared $800,575, €651,505 at Lagos Airport
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday presented its first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of an Austrian national, Kavlak Onal, accused of failing to declare over $800,575 and €651,505 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Onal is standing trial before Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, following his arrest by operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) while attempting to board an Emirates Airlines flight to Dubai in December 2025.
Testifying as Prosecution Witness One (PW1), Yusuf Suleiman, a profiling officer with the NCS attached to the airport, told the court that the defendant was intercepted at the Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Currency Declaration Desk after claiming he had no funds to declare.
Suleiman said a protocol officer had approached him to assist a passenger described as “ill” to the boarding gate. However, upon further questioning, the defendant repeatedly denied carrying any declarable cash.
According to the witness, a search of Onal’s luggage revealed large sums of United States Dollars and Euros, concealed in bundles and envelopes.
“There are public announcements and visible signage at the airport informing passengers that any amount exceeding $10,000 must be declared to Customs,” Suleiman told the court, adding that electronic declaration options are also available to travelers before and during their airport visit.
He further testified that after the discovery, the defendant allegedly pleaded with Customs officers, offering to “settle” them to secure his release, an action which raised further suspicion. The witness added that the defendant was later found to be healthy, contradicting earlier claims that he was ill.
Suleiman told the court that the currencies were eventually counted and confirmed to be $800,575 and €651,505, though the defendant claimed he did not know the exact amount in his possession. He also admitted to being a frequent traveler and acknowledged awareness of currency declaration requirements, stating that he had previously travelled with sums between $20,000 and $30,000.
The EFCC had arraigned Onal on January 9, 2026, on a two-count charge of money laundering, to which he pleaded not guilty. The charges are brought under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.
During proceedings, the prosecution attempted to tender the defendant’s statement obtained by the NCS, but the defence counsel, Victor Okpara, SAN, objected, alleging inducement and lack of voluntariness. Following the objection, the prosecution withdrew the document, and the court granted the request.
Under cross-examination, Suleiman maintained that the defendant had adequate opportunity to declare the funds either online or at the Customs Desk, insisting that the statement made to the NCS was voluntary and without duress.
Justice Bogoro subsequently adjourned the case to February 27, 2026, for continuation of trial.
