Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the remand of Nigerian musician Terry Alexander Ejeh, popularly known as Terry Apala, over allegations of mutilating Naira notes.
The singer was arraigned on Friday, April 25, 2025, by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one-count charge related to the alleged offence.
According to the charge sheet, Terry Apala was accused of tampering with Naira notes by trampling on them while dancing at a social event on January 5, 2025, at La Madison Place, Oniru — an act said to contravene Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.
The musician pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel S.I. Suleiman requested a trial date and moved for the defendant’s remand pending trial. However, defence counsel Felix Nwabuda informed the court of a pending bail application dated April 23, 2025, and appealed for the defendant’s temporary release to the defence team, assuring that Apala would not jump bail.
Nwabuda emphasized that Apala had recently returned from the United Kingdom and voluntarily honoured the EFCC’s invitation.
The prosecution opposed the defence’s request, describing it as “alien and unheard of,” and urged the court to allow time to properly respond to the bail application.
In a brief ruling, Justice Aluko dismissed the defence’s application and adjourned the matter to May 5, 2025, for hearing on the bail application. He also ordered that Terry Apala be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the outcome of the proceedings.
