The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned an Austrian national, Kavlak Onal, before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly failing to declare foreign currencies amounting to $800,575 and €651,505, valued at approximately ₦2.28 billion.
The EFCC prosecutor, Bilikisu Buhari, told Justice Yellim Bogoro that Onal was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Anti-Money Laundering Unit while in possession of the undeclared sums.
Buhari said the defendant is facing a two-count charge under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.
Onal, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him by the court registrar.
Following the plea, the prosecution urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending trial.
Defence counsel, Sterlin Imhemuro, informed the court that a bail application had been filed and served on the prosecution, urging the court to remand the defendant in EFCC custody pending the hearing of the application.
While acknowledging receipt of the bail application at about 9:03 a.m., Buhari requested a short adjournment to study and respond to it.
After hearing both parties, Justice Bogoro adjourned the case to January 16 for the bail hearing and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigeria Customs Service pending the outcome.
The charge alleges that Onal failed to declare the foreign currencies upon arrival at the airport, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering Act.
