Accused 'Housewives' Star -- Dropped Thousands On Stripper Booty -- 'It's MY Money!'

Apollo Nida -- facing federal charges for bank fraud and identity theft -- habitually spent thousands of dollars on booze and strippers ... but says that's no crime because he only spent HIS money.

Nida told his castmates on last night's "Real Housewives of Atlanta" episode ... he routinely hit up nudie bars after he got out of prison in 2009 ... and would brazenly put receipts totaling thousands of dollars on the counter for his wife to see.

According to Nida ... his wife, Phaedra Parks, accepted his costly stripper habit.

We'll see if the the feds are as understanding. As we reported, investigators have accused Nida of creating fake companies and phony bank accounts ... and funneling millions into those accounts.