Quadri Yusuf Alabi, the 17-year-old boy, who gained nationwide attention during the 2023 elections for boldly standing in front of Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi’s convoy, has been released from Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos.
He was discharged and acquitted by a Magistrate Court in Apapa on April 17, 2025, after spending nearly three months in detention on armed robbery charges that were found baseless.
Alabi’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, described the arrest as a “diabolical frame-up” orchestrated by local ‘area boy’ known as Lege and Baba Waris, who abducted the teenager near his home in Amukoko, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, and handed him over to the police.
The youths were reportedly aggrieved over not receiving a share of donations Alabi had received following his viral moment with Obi.
The police had charged Alabi alongside four strangers with armed robbery involving cutlasses and theft of money and mobile phones valued at ₦579,000.
However, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions advised the court to discharge the teenager due to lack of evidence.
Effiong, who visited Alabi in custody with family members, emphasized that the boy, a minor, was unfairly targeted and held with adults without trial. The lawyer pledged to continue fighting for justice for Alabi and condemned the failure of the criminal justice system in this case.
Peter Obi himself expressed concern over Alabi’s detention and called for his immediate release, urging authorities to respect the rule of law and protect youths from unjust treatment.
Alabi’s release marks the end of a troubling legal ordeal that highlighted issues of police conduct and the vulnerability of minors within Nigeria’s justice system.
Writing on his Facebook page, here’s how Effiong announced Quadri Yusuf Alabi’s freedom:
“We are excited to announce that Quadri Yusuf Alabi, the 17-year old teenager who gained fame during the 2023 elections after he spontaneously jumped and stood in front of the convoy of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi has been freed by the court today, 17th April, 2025.
“Our client, Quadri was abducted by two ‘Area Boys’ who are notoriously known in the community as Lege and Baba Waris close to his family residence at Amukoko, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area and dumped at the Amukoko Divisional Police Headquarters (Pako Police Station) in Lagos State.
“Quadri was returning from work when he was grabbed by the duo, who along with other jealous and entitled Area Boys in the community, have been harassing him and threatening to deal with him since 2023 for not giving them ‘their share’ of donations gifted him during the last elections period.
“Quadri’s family informed us that the Baale of the community equally pressured them to buy a cow and rice and cook for the community to appease the Area Boys.
“The abductors initially told the officers at Amukoko Police Station that our client was involved in street fighting.
“To the consternation of Quadri and his family, the police on 26th January, 2025 took Quadri before a Magistrate in Apapa, and obtained an order remanding him at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri on a trumped-up charge of armed robbery.
“The police fraudulently joined Quadri with four strange adults who had no form of connection or relationship whatsoever with him and claimed that the four strange men were his case mates.
“As part of the diabolical frame-up of our client, the officers at Amukoko Police Station also misrepresented his age to be 18, knowing that disclosing his actual age would likely raise eyebrows.
“When we were briefed by Quadri’s mother a week ago, after the matter was brought to public attention by Ms. Hassana Nurudeen, the Co-founder of Ray of Hope Prison Outreach, we swiftly escalated the case and took necessary steps towards securing his freedom.
“At the Court today, the presiding Magistrate, His Honour, A. O. Olorunfemi (Mrs.), confirmed that the legal advice issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), of the Ministry of Justice, Lagos State, Dr. Babajide Martins showed that there was no evidence to substantiate the allegation of armed robbery against Quadri.
“In his Legal Advice, the DPP recommended the non-prosecution of Quadri. Thus, the presiding Magistrate discharged him and he was accordingly freed.
“We commend the DPP for standing by the truth in this matter.
“We demand that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, and the Inspector General of Police, should as a matter of urgency, remove the DPO of Amukoko Divisional Headquarters and subject him to orderly room trial along with the IPO, one Inspector Odigbe Samuel, and other officers who participated in this evil, sinister, oppressive, and corrupt scheme of framing-up a teenager for armed robbery at the behest of rogue ‘Area Boys’.
“We demand that the Nigeria Police Force should pay the sum of One Hundred Million Naira (N100,000,000.00) to our client as compensation.
“Also, we also demand a public apology from the police.
“If the above three remedial demands are not fully complied with immediately, we shall initiate legal actions to seek redress.
“Quadri’s case is a painful example of the putrefying corruption, monstrous impunity, and pervasive injustice in the Nigeria Police Force.
“There are many Quadris languishing in detention centres across Nigeria because of the unbridled criminality, lawlessness, and lack of accountability in the Police institution and the weakness of the justice system.
“History will vindicate the just.”
Signed:
INIBEHE EFFIONG, ESQ.
(Lead Counsel).
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