A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of hip-hop musician Terry Alexander Ejeh, popularly known as Terry Apala, at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre until May 5, 2025.
The musician was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one-count charge of abusing the Naira by trampling on it while dancing during a social event.
This incident is said to have contravened Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, which prohibits the abuse of the Naira.
The charge reads: “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.”
READ ALSO:Terry Apala gives Verydarkman 48-hour ultimatum to remove defamatory post
When the case was called by EFCC counsel, Sulaimon Sulaiman, Terry Apala pleaded not guilty to the charge, prompting the prosecution to request a trial date and ask the court to remand him in custody.
However, his counsel, Felix Nwakbudu, informed the court that a bail application had been filed on his behalf and served on the prosecution earlier that morning.
His counsel stated: “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 counsel, however, opposed the application, saying “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,” he said.
Justice Akintayo Aluko, after considering the arguments from both sides, ordered Terry Apala’s remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of the bail application. The judge also directed an accelerated hearing of the case and adjourned the matter to May 5, 2025, for trial.
Recall that the singer had been in the news as reported by eelive.ng for calling out verydarkman to retract his statement about him allegedly bribing the EFCC and gave him 48 hours to do so.