Quadri Yusuf Alabi, the 17-year-old widely recognized for his bold stance in front of the Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s convoy during the 2023 general elections, has regained his freedom after months of wrongful detention at the Kirikiri Medium Security Custodial Centre.
Quadri was discharged earlier today by a Magistrate Court in Apapa, Lagos, following a legal recommendation from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which confirmed that there was no evidence linking him to the alleged crime.
According to his legal counsel, renowned human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong who has fought people like Alabi, said that the teenager’s ordeal began on January 26, 2025, when he was forcibly abducted near his family home in Amukoko, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos. He was allegedly seized by two known area boys in the community—identified as Lege and Baba Waris—who had been harassing Quadri since his rise to prominence in 2023.
“These individuals and their associates had long attempted to intimidate Quadri for not ‘settling’ them with the donations he received during the election period,” Effiong said. “The pressure extended to his family, who were told by the Baale (traditional leader) to offer a cow, rice, and host a feast to appease these miscreants.”
Initially, the area boys reported to the police that Quadri was involved in a street fight. However, the narrative quickly escalated when officers at the Amukoko Divisional Police Headquarters charged him with armed robbery—an accusation that shocked his family and legal team. In a further abuse of process, the police grouped him with four adult suspects he had no affiliation with and misrepresented his age as 18 to avoid the protections of juvenile law.
Effiong’s team was alerted to the case just a week ago by Ms. Hassana Nurudeen, co-founder of the Ray of Hope Prison Outreach. After meeting with Quadri’s mother and investigating the facts, the legal team moved swiftly to challenge the injustice.
Today in court, Magistrate A.O. Olorunfemi confirmed that the DPP, Dr. Babajide Martins, had advised against prosecuting the teenager, citing a complete lack of evidence. The court accordingly ordered his immediate discharge and release.
In response, Effiong has called for immediate disciplinary action against the officers responsible for what he described as “a sinister and corrupt frame-up.” He demanded that the Divisional Police Officer of Amukoko, Inspector Odigbe Samuel (the Investigating Police Officer), and all others involved in the case be removed and subjected to an orderly room trial.
Furthermore, he called on the Nigeria Police Force to issue a public apology and pay ₦100 million in compensation to Quadri for the emotional and psychological trauma caused by his unlawful detention.
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“This was not just an error—it was a deliberate act of wickedness and oppression,” Effiong stated. “Quadri’s case reflects the deep-rooted rot, lawlessness, and impunity within parts of our police system. There are many other innocent young Nigerians locked up in detention cells across the country for no just cause.”
As Quadri returns home to reunite with his loved ones, his release has reignited urgent conversations around police reform, abuse of power, and the need to strengthen Nigeria’s justice system to protect its most vulnerable citizens.
