Nigerian Afrobeat and Apala singer, Terry Alexander Ejeh, popularly known as Terry Apala, has been remanded in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre following a charge of naira abuse brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a ruling delivered on Friday, April 25, 2025, Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered that the musician be held in custody until May 5, 2025, when his bail application would be heard and determined.
The singer appeared before the court to answer a one-count charge filed by the EFCC, which accused him of trampling on the naira while dancing during a social event held at Madison Place, Oniru, Lagos Island.
During Friday’s proceedings, EFCC counsel, Sulaimon Sulaiman, requested the court to read the charge to the defendant to enable him take his plea. The charge read:
“That you, TERRY ALEXANDER EJEH, on the 5th day of January 2025 at Madison Place, Oniru, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court whilst dancing during a social event tampered with Naira currency issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by matching on it 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, Sulaiman applied for a trial date and asked the court to remand the artist in custody pending trial.
However, the musician’s counsel, Felix Nwakbudu, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on behalf of his client and served on the prosecution that morning. Nwakbudu urged the court to hear the application immediately.
The EFCC counsel, however, opposed the request, stating he needed time to study the application and respond appropriately.
Consequently, Justice Aluko ruled that the defendant be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his bail application. The Judge further ordered an accelerated hearing of the trial and adjourned the case to May 5, 2025.
