Quadri Yusuf Alabi, the 17-year-old boy who gained public attention during the 2023 general elections after standing in front of the convoy of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, has regained his freedom after being unlawfully detained at the Kirikiri Medium Security Custodial Centre.
Quadri’s release was confirmed on Thursday, April 17, 2025, following a ruling by the Magistrate Court in Apapa, Lagos. The court discharged the teenager after the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins, issued a legal advice declaring there was no evidence to support the charge of armed robbery filed against him.
Quadri’s ordeal began when he was abducted by two notorious individuals in the Amukoko area of Lagos—known locally as Lege and Baba Waris—and handed over to police at the Amukoko Divisional Police Headquarters. His family alleged that the arrest was part of a long-standing intimidation campaign by local thugs demanding a share of the donations Quadri received following his viral moment with Peter Obi.
Initially accused of street fighting, the case escalated when police officers charged him with armed robbery and grouped him with four unrelated adults in court. Officers also falsely recorded Quadri’s age as 18 to avoid scrutiny regarding his detention.
The matter gained renewed public attention through advocacy by Ms. Hassana Nurudeen, co-founder of Ray of Hope Prison Outreach. Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, who led Quadri’s legal defence, condemned the police’s actions, describing the ordeal as a “sinister and corrupt scheme.”
Effiong is now demanding the removal of the Divisional Police Officer of Amukoko station, disciplinary action against all officers involved, and a compensation of N100 million for the victim. He also called for a public apology from the Nigeria Police Force.
“This case is a stark reminder of the unchecked impunity within the police system,” Effiong said. “There are many Quadris out there, and we must continue to fight for justice.”
