Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has called for justice for 17-year-old Quadri Yusuf Alabi, who was recently released from detention after being falsely accused of armed robbery. Obi also demanded that all those responsible for the teenager’s wrongful incarceration be held accountable.
Speaking on Friday via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Obi recounted Quadri’s ordeal and expressed gratitude to the legal team and activists who championed his release.
“Today, I had the opportunity to meet with Quadri Yusuf Alabi, the young boy whose story moved us all. After enduring unjust and illegal incarceration, he is finally free. I am grateful to the lawyers led by @InibeheEffiong, and also @DeleFarotimi and Ms. Hassana Nurudeen, whose constant intervention was instrumental in securing justice for the young lad,” Obi stated.
Quadri rose to public attention during the 2023 presidential campaign when he playfully stood in front of Peter Obi’s convoy in Lagos. However, months later, he was arrested near his home in the Amukoko area of Lagos, initially accused of street fighting. He was then arraigned on a trumped-up charge of armed robbery and remanded at the Kirikiri Medium Security Custodial Centre.
Obi noted that despite all Quadri endured, his primary desire remains to return to school. “His unwavering desire for education stood out. I am committed to ensuring he gets the education he deserves. But beyond that, we must demand accountability. We cannot allow such acts of criminality and abuse of power to go unpunished,” he said.
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, who led the legal team, confirmed that Quadri was discharged by a Magistrate Court in Apapa on April 17, 2025. The court acted based on the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of Lagos State, Dr. Babajide Martins, which stated there was no evidence linking Quadri to the alleged crime.
Effiong described the events leading to Quadri’s detention as a “diabolical frame-up.” According to him, the teenager was abducted by two local thugs—identified as Lege and Baba Waris—who were angry that he did not share donations he received following his viral moment during the elections. They handed him over to the police at Amukoko, who then fabricated a robbery case against him.
“The police went as far as joining Quadri’s case with four unrelated adults and misrepresented his age to be 18 to avoid legal scrutiny,” Effiong explained.
Effiong praised the swift intervention of the Lagos DPP and called for immediate disciplinary action against the officers involved. “Quadri’s case is a painful example of the corruption, impunity, and injustice within the Nigeria Police Force,” he stated.
He further highlighted the systemic issue, noting that many innocent Nigerians remain unlawfully detained across the country due to similar abuse of power and lack of accountability in the justice system.
With Quadri now free, activists and observers continue to demand systemic reforms to ensure justice and prevent such incidents from recurring.
