Peter Obi: ‘Those Responsible For Quadri’s Illegal Incarceration Must Be Held Accountable’

Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has demanded accountability and justice for Quadri Yusuf Alabi, the 17-year-old boy who was wrongly imprisoned on false charges of armed robbery in Lagos.
In a statement shared on Friday via his official X handle, Obi condemned the unlawful incarceration of the teenager, who gained national attention during the 2023 election campaign after playfully standing in front of Obi’s convoy in Lagos.
“Today (Friday), 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, and I am very grateful to the lawyers led by @InibeheEffiong, who fought for his release, and also to @DeleFarotimi and Ms. Hassana Nurudeen, whose constant intervention was instrumental in securing justice for the young lad,” Obi stated.
He expressed admiration for Quadri’s resilience, noting the boy’s unwavering desire to return to school despite his traumatic experience. “Despite all he has been through, his only dream is to return to school and complete his education — and I will make sure he gets it,” Obi said.
The former Anambra governor stressed that securing Quadri’s release was not enough. He insisted that those responsible for his illegal detention must be held accountable.
“In addition, we must not stop at his release. Those responsible for his illegal incarceration must be held accountable. As we strive to build a Nigeria where fairness and integrity prevail, we cannot afford to allow such acts of criminality to go unpunished,” he declared.
Effiong: A Case of Injustice and Police Misconduct
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, who led the legal team that secured Quadri’s freedom, also issued a statement announcing the court’s decision to discharge the teenager on April 17, 2025.
According to Effiong, “Quadri Yusuf Alabi, the 17-year-old teenager who gained fame during the 2023 elections after standing in front of the convoy of Mr. Peter Obi, has been freed by the court today… after being framed for armed robbery by the Lagos police.”
Effiong explained that Quadri was abducted in January by two notorious area boys known as Lege and Baba Waris near his home in Amukoko, Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA, and dumped at the Amukoko Divisional Police Headquarters.
The lawyer alleged that the area boys had been harassing Quadri since 2023, demanding a share of the donations he received after his viral moment during the election campaign. When their extortion efforts failed, they allegedly framed him for street fighting, leading to a false charge of armed robbery.
“To the consternation of Quadri and his family, the police on 26th January, 2025 took him before a Magistrate in Apapa and obtained an order remanding him at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, on a trumped-up charge of armed robbery,” Effiong said.
He further revealed that the police falsely claimed Quadri was 18 years old and linked him with four unknown adults, alleging they were his accomplices. The claim was not supported by any evidence, and no identification parade was conducted.
The court, presided over by Magistrate A.O. Olorunfemi (Mrs.), dismissed the case after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins, advised against prosecuting Quadri due to lack of evidence.
Effiong lauded the DPP’s office and the magistrate for upholding justice but urged the Inspector General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to take urgent action against the officers involved in the wrongful prosecution.
“Quadri’s case is a painful example of the putrefying corruption, monstrous impunity, and pervasive injustice in the Nigeria Police Force,” Effiong said. “There are many Quadris languishing in detention centres across Nigeria because of the unbridled criminality, lawlessness, and lack of accountability in the police institution and the weakness of the justice system.”
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