Quadri Alabi, the teenager who became a viral sensation during the 2023 presidential campaign for boldly standing in front of Peter Obi’s convoy, has finally been released after spending close to three months behind bars. A Magistrate Court in Apapa, Lagos, cleared him of all charges on Thursday, April 17, following legal advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which found no basis for the armed robbery allegation levelled against him.
Alabi’s lawyer, human rights advocate Inibehe Effiong, announced the news on X (formerly Twitter), celebrating the court’s decision and revealing disturbing details about the events leading up to his arrest. According to Effiong, the 17-year-old was abducted near his home in the Amukoko area by two local enforcers, known as Lege and Baba Waris. They reportedly handed him over to the police, accusing him of being involved in a street fight, an accusation that eventually snowballed into a charge of armed robbery.
Effiong alleged that these individuals had been threatening Alabi since 2023 due to the financial donations he received from supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate. To force the family to “settle” the matter, local leaders allegedly pressured them to buy a cow and host a feast.
Despite his age, police reportedly recorded him as 18 and detained him alongside four adults with whom he had no known relationship. He was formally arraigned on January 26, 2025. The case resurfaced in the public eye earlier this month after Hassana Nurudeen, co-founder of the Ray of Hope Prison Outreach, raised awareness about his situation.
With the DPP advising against prosecution, Magistrate A.O. Olorunfemi ordered Alabi’s immediate discharge. Effiong has since called for disciplinary action against the officers involved in the case and is demanding N100 million in compensation and a public apology from the Nigeria Police. “This is not just about Quadri. His story reflects the deep-rooted abuse of power, injustice, and corruption within the Nigerian police system,” Effiong said.