Nigerian singer Terry Ejeh, popularly known as Terry Apala, has been remanded in custody by a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos over alleged tampering with naira notes.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the musician on Friday, charging him with a one-count offence related to the mutilation of the Nigerian currency.
According to the charge sheet, Terry Apala allegedly committed the offence on January 5, 2025, at La Madison Place, Oniru, Lagos:
“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, prosecution counsel S.I. Suleiman requested that the court set a trial date and that the defendant be remanded in custody pending further proceedings.
However, defence counsel Felix Nwabuda informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on April 23, 2025, and appealed for a short adjournment for its hearing. He also pleaded for the singer’s release to the defence team in the interim, assuring the court that Terry would not abscond:
“We undertake to produce him in court. He will not evade hearing. He came in from the United Kingdom on April 23, 2025, and voluntarily honoured the EFCC’s invitation.”
The prosecution opposed the request, describing it as “alien and unheard of,” and urged the court to allow proper time to respond to the bail application.
In his ruling, Justice Akintayo Aluko denied the request for interim release and ordered that Terry Apala be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
The court adjourned the matter to May 5, 2025, for the hearing of the bail application.
