17-Year-Old Who Stood Before Peter Obi’s Convoy During 2023 Elections Freed After Months in Detention Over False Armed Robbery Charge
Quadri Yusuf Alabi, the 17-year-old who gained national attention during the 2023 elections for boldly standing in front of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s convoy, has finally regained his freedom after months of wrongful detention.
A Magistrate Court in Apapa, Lagos, discharged Quadri on Wednesday following legal advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who found no evidence to support the armed robbery charge filed against him.
Quadri had been held at the Kirikiri Medium Security Custodial Centre since January 26, 2025. According to his lawyer, human rights advocate Inibehe Effiong, the arrest stemmed from a “diabolical frame-up” by officers at Amukoko Divisional Police Headquarters.
Effiong revealed that Quadri was abducted by two local area boys—Lege and Baba Waris—who had previously harassed him for not sharing donations he received after his viral moment in 2023. “They grabbed him on his way from work and pressured his family for a peace offering, including a cow, rice, and a feast,” Effiong said via Facebook.
Initially accused of street fighting, the charge was mysteriously upgraded to armed robbery. The police allegedly grouped him with four unrelated adult suspects and falsely listed his age as 18 to bypass juvenile protection protocols.
Effiong’s team took up the case after human rights advocate Hassana Nurudeen, co-founder of Ray of Hope Prison Outreach, raised the alarm. A swift legal response led to a review by the DPP, who advised against prosecution.
Presiding Magistrate A.O. Olorunfemi discharged Quadri accordingly, ending a traumatic chapter in the teenager’s life. Effiong is now demanding the removal and investigation of the Amukoko Divisional Police Officer, Inspector Odigbe Samuel, and all officers involved. He’s also seeking a public apology and ₦100 million compensation, threatening legal action if ignored.
“This case exposes the deep rot in the Nigeria Police Force—its corruption, impunity, and the suffering it causes innocent citizens,” Effiong stated. “There are many other Quadris out there.”
Quadri is now home with his family, but his case has reignited calls for urgent police reform and justice system overhaul in Nigeria.
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