On Friday, April 25, 2025, Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, ordered the detention of musician Terry Alexander Ejeh, also known as Terry Apala, at a Correctional Centre over allegations of mutilating Naira notes.
Ejeh was charged by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with one count related to the alleged offense. The charge states that Ejeh, on January 5, 2025, at La Madison Place, Oniru, during a social event, tampered with Naira notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by stepping on them, in violation of Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.
Ejeh pleaded not guilty to the charge. Afterward, the prosecution, represented by S.I. Suleiman, requested a trial date and asked for the defendant to be kept in custody until the trial.
The defense attorney, Felix Nwabuda, informed the court about a pending bail application dated April 23, 2025, and requested a short adjournment for its consideration. He further urged the court to release the defendant into the defense’s custody, assuring the court that Ejeh would attend all hearings, as he voluntarily returned from the United Kingdom on April 23, 2025, at the EFCC’s request.
However, the prosecution opposed the request, calling the bail application unusual and asking for time to review it before responding.
In a brief decision, Justice Aluko dismissed the defense’s request and set a new hearing date for the bail application on May 5, 2025. The judge also ordered that Ejeh be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre until the bail proceedings are concluded.