News
EFCC Presents Second Witness In Trial Of Austrian For Undeclared $800,575, €651,505 At Lagos Airport
EFCC Presents Second Witness In Trial Of Austrian For Undeclared $800,575, €651,505 At Lagos Airport
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, opposed the defence’s bid to adjourn the trial of an Austrian national arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, for allegedly failing to declare $800,575 and €651,505 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The defendant, Kavlak Onal, who was scheduled to travel to Dubai aboard Emirates Airline, was intercepted by operatives of the NCS during a routine check at the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism, AML/CFT, Currency Declaration Desk on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, and was subsequently handed over to the EFCC for further investigation.
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Upon conclusion of investigation, he was arraigned on Friday, January 9, 2026, before Justice Yelim Bogoro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering.
Count one reads:
“That you, Mr. Kavlak Onal, on December 13, 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of $800,575 (Eight Hundred Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy-Five United States Dollars) to the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Count two reads:
“That you, Mr. Kavlak Onal, on December 13, 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of €651,505 (Six Hundred and Fifty-One Thousand, Five Hundred and Five Euros) to the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against him.
At the resumed sitting on Tuesday, Omon Omofona, who appeared for the defence, informed the court that the lead counsel was attending to another matter in a different court and sought an adjournment.
In response, the prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, informed the court that accelerated hearing had earlier been granted in the matter.
Citing relevant laws, Buhari stated that “The witness is on official assignment, but left his duty post to be here.
“It is proper that the counsel already present in court be briefed on the matter and proceed accordingly.
“This is a criminal trial, and the image of the country is also at stake.”
While acknowledging the prosecution’s argument that the matter was a criminal trial, Omofona pleaded with the court to grant the adjournment application in the interest of fair hearing.
In her ruling, Justice Bogoro held that the counsel present in court should take note of proceedings and brief the lead counsel accordingly, adding that a date would be fixed for cross-examination.
The judge consequently ordered that the trial should proceed.
Thereafter, Buhari presented the second prosecution witness, PW2, Sani Ibrahim, an operative of the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS.
Led in evidence by Buhari, the witness, who is attached to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, told the court that he met the defendant in December 2025 after a colleague informed him about a passenger travelling to Dubai aboard Emirates Airline.
According to him: “My colleague requested that I assist the defendant into the departure hall after he had collected his boarding pass.
“My colleague also informed me that the passenger was ill.
“So, I went to the Emirates Airline counter and met the defendant.
“I collected his passport and boarding pass and asked him to follow me into the departure hall.”
Continuing his testimony, the witness said: “The defendant told me he was ill and requested that I take him to the lounge inside the airport.
“I cleared him and took him to the AVSEC Aviation Security point, where his luggage was to be screened.

EFCC
“After the bag was scanned, AVSEC personnel discovered suspicious items inside the bag.
“At that point, I asked him what was inside the bag, and he said they were medicines and other personal belongings.
“He, however, did not mention that he had money inside the bag.”
The witness further stated that he later escorted the defendant to officials of the Nigeria Customs Service for currency declaration.
“I told Sulaiman, a Customs officer, that he was a passenger travelling aboard Emirates Airline and that he was ill.
“Sulaiman asked the defendant whether he had any currency to declare, and the defendant answered, ‘No.’
“They then requested to search the bag, and the defendant consented.”
He added that during the search, Customs officers discovered an envelope containing United States dollars, which prompted a more thorough search.
“In the process, they discovered a huge amount of money, the likes of which I had never seen in my life,” he said.
The witness further told the court that the defendant was immediately taken to the Customs office, after which he informed his superior officer about the development.
According to him, the Customs officer subsequently requested the defendant to make a written statement.
Justice Bogoro, thereafter, adjourned the matter till July 13, 2026, for the cross-examination of the second prosecution witness.
News
ADC Faults Court Ruling On NDC Party, Warns Against One-Party State
ADC Faults Court Ruling On NDC Party, Warns Against One-Party State
The African Democratic Congress has alleged a coordinated attempt to weaken opposition parties ahead of the forthcoming general election, warning that Nigeria risks sliding into a one-party state if what it described as the “growing assault on democracy” is not checked.
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The party’s position followed the decision of the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja to set aside its earlier judgment recognising the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), a development the ADC said fits into a broader pattern of actions aimed at shrinking the country’s democratic space.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party expressed concern over what it called a succession of legal and administrative actions targeting opposition parties, insisting that the trend poses a grave threat to constitutional democracy.
“The cumulative effect of these attacks is unmistakable: they weaken the opposition, narrow the democratic space, and strengthen the hands of those already in power. This is not how a healthy democracy functions,” the statement read in part.
According to the ADC, the controversy surrounding the NDC goes beyond the fortunes of a single political party and strikes at the heart of Nigeria’s democratic system.
“When opposition parties are persistently distracted by manufactured controversies and prolonged legal uncertainty, the real casualty is the Nigerian people’s right to freely choose among credible political alternatives,” the party stated.
The ADC also accused the President Bola Tinubu-led government of creating conditions that undermine fair political competition, arguing that democratic governance thrives on institutional neutrality and equal treatment of all political actors under the law.
“This has not been the case under the Bola Tinubu administration,” the statement added.
“The judiciary remains one of the last lines of defence for our democracy and must never be perceived as an arena where political battles are settled on behalf of those who wield executive power. Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done,” Abdullahi said.
The party further warned that any perception that the courts were being deployed for partisan political objectives could have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
Calling for collective action, the ADC appealed to opposition parties, civil society organisations, the legal community, organised labour, the media, and Nigerians to unite in defence of democratic institutions.
“Yesterday’s target was the NDC. Tomorrow, it could be anyone who dares to offer Nigerians an alternative. We must not wait until the democratic space has been completely suffocated before we act,” the statement further read.
It also urged Nigerians to remain vigilant against any attempt to intimidate or silence opposition voices, stressing that the rights to political participation and freedom of association are constitutional guarantees that must be protected.

Enugu Assembly Member Harrison Ogara Dumps ADC For NDC
“The Constitution guarantees freedom of association, political participation and the right of citizens to freely choose their leaders. Those rights are not concessions from any government; they are constitutional guarantees that must be defended by all,” Abdullahi stated.
The ADC maintained that it would continue to resist what it described as efforts to undermine multi-party democracy and pledged to stand with all Nigerians committed to preserving democratic governance.
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News
CAS Commissions Modern Pilot’s Accommodation In Kano To Advance Training, Mission Readiness
CAS Commissions Modern Pilot’s Accommodation In Kano To Advance Training, Mission Readiness
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF) commitment to advancing pilot training and strengthening mission readiness through sustained investment in personnel welfare and critical infrastructure.
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The CAS stated this on 26 June 2026 during the commissioning of newly renovated accommodation for student and instructor pilots at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Kano. He was represented at the event by the Chief of Training, Air Vice Marshal AY Dari.
The project comprises a 20-flat accommodation block for student pilots and a 12-room accommodation block for instructor pilots at 403 Flying Training School (403 FTS). Designed to provide a conducive environment for learning and professional development, the facilities will enhance the wellbeing, morale and productivity of both trainees and instructors.
The initiative reflects the Chief of the Air Staff’s Command Philosophy, which identifies personnel welfare as a strategic enabler of operational effectiveness while strengthening the training environment required to develop the next generation of professional and mission-ready pilots.
Speaking at the ceremony, Air Vice Marshal Dari emphasised that quality accommodation is integral to producing highly skilled, disciplined and mission-ready pilots capable of meeting the dynamic demands of contemporary air operations.

Pilot’s Accommodation In Kano
He noted that sustained investment in personnel welfare and training infrastructure remains essential to building a professional force that can effectively deliver on the Nigerian Air Force’s constitutional responsibilities.
The event also featured a tree-planting exercise at the School, reaffirming the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible stewardship of its operating environment.
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News
Obi: Government Doing Everything To Ensure I Do Not Contest In 2027
Obi: Government Doing Everything To Ensure I Do Not Contest In 2027
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has alleged that forces within the Federal Government are working to prevent him from appearing on the ballot for the 2027 presidential election.
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Speaking on Friday as a guest speaker at a leadership programme organised by NextGen Mentorship and Leadership Initiative at Madonna University, Okija, Obi claimed efforts were underway to stop his participation in the next election, Daily Post reports.
“If you know what they are doing to ensure that I’m not on the ballot in 2027, you will be surprised. Nigerian government is doing everything to ensure that I do not contest in this election, but I’m not looking at the obstacles but at the destination.
“I’m rather focussed at the fruitfulness of the destination and that is what keeps me going,” he said.
Obi also challenged all prospective presidential contenders, including President Bola Tinubu, to a public debate on their plans for the country.
“I challenge any of those contesting to a debate to say what they want to do for this country, including President Bola Tinubu. I’m not saying it to make you happy but to change Nigeria and make it work,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor told the students that he was not driven by personal ambition but by a desire to see the country improve.
Get your PVC
“I’m not desperate to be Nigerian President but desperate to see Nigeria work. Go and obtain your PVC. If you don’t vote, you are hurting your future. When you have your PVC, do not vote for me because I’m an Igbo man. I’m not contesting election because I’m an igbo man, but vote for me because I’m the most qualified.”
Obi also spoke about insecurity across the country, saying: “I will fight to make Nigeria better and end the criminality in Nigeria. There is insecurity in the entire country and everyone is involved, so I want to build a country that works.”
The NDC figure further argued that Nigeria’s challenges stem from a lack of commitment among leaders and what he described as reactionary forces determined to hinder progress.
Reacting to a Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja, Kogi State, which set aside an earlier ruling directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party, Obi said the setback would not deter him.
“They can not stop me. They will fail. Let me assure you it is not the end of the road. We are committed to this democracy and those who want to kill this democracy are trying to hurt the society.

Peter Obi
“The reactionary elements in Nigeria, those who are bent on holding Nigeria down do not want it to work but I can assure you it would work. I have confidence that I will pull through because the will of the people must prevail,” he declared.
He added: “No where is safe in Nigeria today, yet the people who should help salvage the country are bent on hurting our democracy. My message to all those who mean well for Nigeria and not just my supporters is for us to remain peaceful and continue to resist this tragedy being imposed on Nigeria.”
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