Singer Terry Apala remanded in Ikoyi prison over alleged naira mutilation

A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, April 25, 2025, ordered the remand of Nigerian musician Terry Alexander Ejeh, popularly known as Terry Apala, in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre for allegedly mutilating naira notes.

The development was disclosed in a statement posted on the official Facebook account of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday.

The statement revealed that the singer was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC on a one-count charge of tampering with currency notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

According to the charge, “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 when it was read to him.

Following his plea, prosecution counsel S.I. Suleiman asked the court for a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded in custody.

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Defence counsel, Felix Nwabuda, informed the court of a pending bail application dated April 23, 2025. He urged the court to grant a short date for the hearing and requested that the defendant be temporarily released to the defence.

“Whilst praying the court for a short date for the hearing of the bail application, I will be craving the indulgence of the court to release the defendant to the defence.

“We undertake to produce him in court. He will not evade hearing. He came in from the United Kingdom on April 23, 2025, and on the invitation of the EFCC, he came on his own.”

The prosecution opposed the request, stating, “The application is alien and unheard of.”

“I urge the court to afford us the opportunity to look at the application and respond properly so that the court can make a well-informed ruling,” Suleiman added.

In a brief ruling, Justice Akintayo Aluko refused the defence’s application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.

The judge adjourned the matter until May 5, 2025, for the hearing of the bail application.

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