A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered that Nigerian hip-hop artiste, Terry Alexander Ejeh, known as Terry Apala, be kept in prison custody for allegedly abusing the naira.
Justice Akintayo Aluko gave the order on Friday, April 25, 2025, after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned the singer in court.
Terry Apala is accused of stepping on naira notes while dancing at a social event held at Madison Place, Oniru, Lagos Island. The EFCC described this act as a violation of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act.
According to the charge, “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.”
EFCC counsel, Sulaimon Sulaiman, asked the court to remand the defendant and set a date for trial. He said the agency was ready to prove its case in court.
Terry Apala pleaded not guilty to the charge.
His lawyer, Felix Nwakbudu, informed the court that a bail application had been submitted earlier and pleaded for it to be heard the same day.
However, the EFCC lawyer objected, saying he needed more time to go through the application before responding.
Justice Aluko agreed with the EFCC and ruled that Terry Apala be kept at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre until the bail hearing, which has now been scheduled for May 5, 2025.
The judge also said the trial would move quickly and would begin on that same date.
