An Austrian, Kavlak Onal has been arraigned before Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos for failing to declare foreign currencies amounting to $800,575 and €651,505, totalling approximately N2.28 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the Austrian.
EFCC prosecutor, Bilikisu Buhari, told the trial judge that Onal was picked up with these currencies at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, by officers from the Nigeria Customs Service’s Anti-Money Laundering Unit.
According to the prosecutor, the two-count charge against the foreigner is punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.
The Austrian, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges when it was read to him by the court’s registrar.
Based on this, Buhari demanded that fix a trial date be set and remand the defendant in the Nigerian Correctional Services pending trial.
Defence lawyer Starlin Imhemuro he had filed a bail application on behalf of his client and served on the prosecutor.
Imhemuro appealed to Justice Bogoro to remand the defendant in EFCC custody until the bail application is heard.
Buhari said she got the bail application at around 9:03am, she requested for a short adjournment to review and respond.
After listening to the lawyers, Justice Bogoro adjourned the case to January 16 for the bail hearing and ordered that the defendant be kept in NCoS custody pending the bail hearing.
The charge accused Onal of failing to declare $800,575 and €651,505 at the airport, violating the Money Laundering Act.
