Teen Who Stood Before Peter Obi’s Convoy Gets N10m Support After Police Falsely Charged Him With Armed Robbery, Altered Age to Aid Prosecution
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has revealed that more than N10 million has been raised in just four days for 17-year-old Quadri Alabi, who was falsely accused of armed robbery by the police. Effiong made the disclosure during a live interview on Channels Television on Monday, where both he and Alabi appeared as guests.
According to Effiong, Alabi was arrested earlier this year in connection with a violent street fight in the Amukoko area of Lagos and was wrongly presented in court as an 18-year-old, even though he is only 17. He said this was done deliberately by the police to facilitate his prosecution in an adult court.
Magistrate Adetola Olorunfemi later released Alabi based on legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins, who found no evidence linking him to the alleged crime.
Effiong further alleged that Alabi was subjected to an internal police trial at the Amukoko Division alongside Inspector Odigbe Samuel and others, describing the process as an “evil, sinister, oppressive, and corrupt scheme” instigated by rogue area boys in collusion with the police.
Effiong also recounted Alabi’s rise to public attention in 2023 when a photo of him spontaneously raising his hand during one of Peter Obi’s campaign tours went viral. That moment brought him donations and fame—but also unwanted attention.
“After gaining popularity, local area boys began harassing and extorting him, demanding he ‘settle’ them. When his mother refused to throw a community feast, the threats intensified,” Effiong said.
He added that this was not the first time Alabi was targeted. In January, while returning home from work, he was picked up by two area boys known as Leggy and Baba Waris, who handed him over to the police and falsely accused him of being involved in a street fight.
“Alabi was detained for a week before being brought to court on January 27. He was charged alongside four adult men he had never met, and was accused of taking part in an armed robbery. No identification parade was held, and no evidence linked him to the crime,” Effiong said.
On the falsified age, he stated: “The police claimed he was 18 in court documents to ensure he was treated as an adult. If they had listed his real age—17—the case would’ve taken a different legal route.”
Narrating his ordeal, Alabi said, “I was standing at the entrance of my house when the police came and arrested me. The area boys pointed me out. They had already taken my phone and money before the police came. At the station, I was the youngest among the detainees.”
Effiong concluded by saying, “Over N10 million has been raised within four days to help relocate Quadri from Amukoko and support his mother’s small business. This is a true reflection of the Nigerian spirit and the power of solidarity.”
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