Quadri Yusuf Alabi, the 17-year-old who gained national recognition during the 2023 elections for courageously standing before Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s convoy, has finally been released after months of wrongful detention at the Kirikiri Medium Security Custodial Centre.
His release came on Wednesday after a Lagos State Magistrate Court in Apapa discharged him, following a legal advisory by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) which found no credible evidence to support the armed robbery allegations levelled against him.
Quadri’s ordeal began on January 26, 2025, when he was picked up by officers at Amukoko Divisional Police Headquarters in what his legal team described as a “deliberate and malicious frame-up.” According to human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, who led the legal charge for his release, the teenager was abducted by two known area boys—Lege and Baba Waris—who had previously harassed him for not sharing donations he received following his viral moment during the elections.
Effiong revealed that Quadri’s family was even coerced by the community’s Baale to offer a peace settlement of a cow, rice, and other items to appease the local thugs. What started as a minor dispute escalated when the police bizarrely charged Quadri with armed robbery and lumped him together with four unrelated adult suspects. To sidestep juvenile protection protocols, authorities allegedly falsified his age to 18.
It wasn’t until Hassana Nurudeen, co-founder of Ray of Hope Prison Outreach, brought the matter to public attention that Effiong’s legal team intervened. The DPP’s review eventually affirmed Quadri’s innocence, prompting Magistrate A. O. Olorunfemi (Mrs.) to order his discharge.
Effiong has now demanded the immediate dismissal and investigation of the Divisional Police Officer at Amukoko, Investigating Officer Inspector Odigbe Samuel, and all others involved in what he called “a wicked and corrupt conspiracy.” He is also pressing for a public apology and ₦100 million in compensation from the Nigeria Police Force, threatening legal action if demands are not met.
“This case is not just about Quadri—it’s a reflection of the deep-rooted rot within our policing and justice systems,” Effiong said. “There are countless other Quadris rotting away in detention cells because of unchecked abuse of power.”
As Quadri reunites with his family, his story serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for systemic reform and accountability in Nigeria’s criminal justice architecture.
