Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, April 25, 2025, remanded a musician, Terry Alexander Ejeh, otherwise known as Terry Apala, in a Correctional Centre for alleged “mutilation of the Naira notes.”

He was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, April 25, 2025, on a one-count charge of “mutilating the Naira notes.”

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.”

He pleaded not guilty to the offence when it was read to him. In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, prayed for a trial date and also urged the court to remand him in a Correctional Centre.

The defence counsel, Felix Nwabuda, informed the court of a bail application dated April 23, 2025 and prayed the court for a short date for the hearing of the application.

“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.

In a short ruling, Justice Aluko refused the application of the defence. Justice Aluko adjourned till May 5, 2025 and ordered the remand of the defendant in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the determination of the bail application.

President Bola Tinubu has dispatched a delegation to Vatican City for the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88.

A statement released on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, announced that Godswill Akpabio, the senate president, is leading the five-member delegation to the funeral.

The other members of the delegation include Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, “minister of state for foreign affairs”; Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, “president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria”; Matthew Hassan Kukah, “archbishop of the Sokoto diocese”; and Ignatius Ayua Kaigama, “archbishop of the Abuja diocese.”

“The funeral service of the revered head of the Roman Catholic Church is scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Vatican.”

“The Nigerian delegation will formally deliver a letter to the acting head of the Vatican conveying Tinubu’s condolences.”

On Monday, Tinubu joined the global Christian community in mourning the late pope.

“Pope Francis was a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions,” Tinubu said.

The president described the pope’s death, which occurred just after Easter Sunday, as “a sacred return to his Maker at a time of renewed hope for Christians”.

The Nigeria Education Loan Fund announced on Friday that it has reached a significant milestone in its first year of operation, with “ over 500,000 Nigerian students who have now applied for student loans through the NELFUND portal.”

According to a statement by its director of Corporate Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, this milestone, achieved in just 11 months of operation, emphasizes the critical need for accessible student financing in Nigeria and highlights the widespread trust in NELFUND’s mission to democratize access to tertiary education.

“This is more than just a number; it’s a signal of hope for families across Nigeria. We are witnessing a nationwide demand for opportunity, and NELFUND is proud to be at the heart of this transformation,” Managing Director/CEO of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde said in the statement.

Since the launch of the portal, students across the country have actively engaged with the application process for both institutional and upkeep loans, demonstrating the relevance and urgency of the Fund’s efforts.

NELFUND said it remains committed to ensuring transparency, accessibility, and efficiency as the process continues, and calls on all stakeholders to join in supporting the vision of equitable education for all.