EFCC presents second witness in trial of Austrian over undeclared $800,575 and €651,505 at Lagos airport
Lagos, Nigeria, May 12, 2026
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday presented its second prosecution witness in the trial of an Austrian national, Kavlak Onal, who is facing charges over alleged failure to declare $800,575 and €651,505 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The defendant was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service while preparing to travel to Dubai aboard Emirates Airline in December 2025 and was later handed over to the EFCC for further investigation.
Following investigations, Onal was arraigned before Justice Yelim Bogoro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
At the resumed hearing, defence counsel, Omon Omofona, requested an adjournment on the grounds that the lead counsel was engaged in another court proceeding.
However, prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, opposed the application, informing the court that accelerated hearing had earlier been granted in the matter.
She argued that the prosecution witness had left his official assignment to attend court and stressed the importance of proceeding with the criminal trial in the interest of justice and the country’s image.
In her ruling, Justice Bogoro directed that proceedings should continue and advised the counsel present in court to brief the lead counsel accordingly, while fixing a later date for cross-examination.
The prosecution subsequently presented its second witness, Sani Ibrahim, an operative of the Nigerian Immigration Service attached to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
While being led in evidence, the witness told the court that he encountered the defendant in December 2025 after a colleague informed him about a passenger travelling to Dubai aboard Emirates Airline.
According to Ibrahim, he was asked to assist the defendant into the departure hall after the passenger had collected his boarding pass, adding that he was informed the defendant was ill at the time.
