A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, April 25, 2025, ordered the remand of popular Nigerian musician, Terry Alexander Ejeh, popularly known as Terry Apala, at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre over alleged mutilation of Naira notes.
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the artist before Justice Akintayo Aluko on a one-count charge bordering on tampering with Naira notes.
According to the charge, the alleged offence occurred on January 5, 2025, at La Madison Place, Oniru, Lagos, during a social event where the defendant was said to have stepped on Naira notes while dancing. The act, the EFCC stated, contravenes Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.
The charge reads:
“That you, TERRY ALEXANDER EJEH, on the 5th day of January, 2025, at La Madison Place, Oniru, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst dancing during a social event, tampered with Naira notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by marching on the same and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.”
Terry Apala pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel, S.I. Suleiman, requested a date for trial and asked the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility.
However, defence counsel, Felix Nwabuda, notified the court of a pending bail application dated April 23, 2025, and appealed for a short date for its hearing. He also urged the court to temporarily release the defendant to the defence team, assuring the court of his client’s cooperation.
“He came into Nigeria from the United Kingdom on April 23, 2025, and voluntarily honoured the EFCC’s invitation. We undertake to produce him in court as required,” Nwabuda said.
The prosecution opposed the oral application, describing it as “alien and unheard of,” and asked for time to formally respond to the bail application to enable the court make a well-informed decision.
Justice Aluko, in his ruling, declined the defence’s request and adjourned the matter to May 5, 2025, for hearing of the bail application. He further ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the outcome of the bail hearing.
