•Terry Apala (L)
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos today has ordered the remand of hip hop musician, Terry Alexander Ejeh, also known as Terry Apala, for a charge of naira abuse.
Justice Akintayo Aluko ordered his remand in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, Lagos, till May 5, 2025, when his bail application would be heard and determined, reports Channels TV.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had arraigned Ejeh before the court on a one-count charge of abuse of the naira by matching on it whilst dancing during a social event at Madison Place, Oniru, Lagos Island.
Counsel to the EFCC, Sulaimon Sulaiman, then asked the court to allow the charge to be read to the defendant so he could take his plea.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge, after which Sulaimon asked for a trial date and the remand of the defendant in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Centre.
Counsel to the defendant, Felix Nwakbudu, however, informed the court of a pending bail application filed on behalf of his client.
Nwakbudu stated that the prosecution had been served with a copy of the bail summons this morning, and he pleaded with the court to allow him to move the application.
The prosecutor opposed the hearing of the bail application on the grounds that he would need time to study the application and make an appropriate response.
In his ruling, Justice Aluko ordered the remand of the defendant at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.
The judge also ordered an accelerated hearing of the trial, before adjourning the matter till May 5, for trial.
The charge against the defendant reads: “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.”
