Framed and Forgotten: Teen Who Stood Before Peter Obi’s Convoy Freed After 3 Months in Kirikiri
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…. As Lawyer Demands ₦100 Million from Police, Ordely Room Trial of Officers
In a stunning victory for justice, Quadri Yusuf Alabi, the 17-year-old who captured national attention during the 2023 elections by bravely standing in front of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s convoy, has finally regained his freedom after months of wrongful imprisonment.
Quadri’s ordeal began in January when he was forcibly abducted near his family home in Amukoko, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area, Lagos State, by two notorious street thugs known locally as “Lege” and “Baba Waris”. According to his legal team, the teenager was targeted due to resentment over donations he had received after his viral act of bravery during the election period — donations which some street urchins popularly known as ‘Area Boys’ felt entitled to share.
His captors dragged him to the Amukoko Divisional Police Headquarters (popularly known as Pako Police Station), where officers, without proper investigation, bundled him into a fabricated armed robbery case.
Quadri was wrongfully charged alongside four unknown adult men and remanded at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri — a dangerous facility notorious for harsh conditions.
In a move described by his lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, as “diabolical,” the police even falsified Quadri’s age, listing him as 18 years old to avoid scrutiny over their illegal detention of a minor.
Public attention to Quadri’s plight surged after prison rights activist Hassana Nurudeen, Co-founder of Ray of Hope Prison Outreach, brought his case to light. Quadri’s mother, desperate for help, reached out to Effiong’s law firm, sparking a swift legal campaign for his release.
Appearing before Magistrate A.O. Olorunfemi (Mrs.) on Thursday, the court confirmed the findings of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins, who determined that there was no evidence whatsoever linking Quadri to any armed robbery. The DPP recommended that all charges be dropped.
Based on the DPP’s advice, the presiding Magistrate immediately discharged Quadri, ordering his release to the jubilation of his family and supporters. 
Speaking after the court session, Lead Counsel Effiong did not mince words, slamming the Amukoko police officers for what he called a “sinister, oppressive, and corrupt scheme” to destroy a teenager’s life at the behest of street thugs.
“The Commissioner of Police and the Inspector General of Police must immediately remove the Divisional Police Officer of Amukoko Division, Inspector Odigbe Samuel, and all officers involved must face an orderly room trial,” Effiong demanded.
He further called on the Nigeria Police Force to pay Quadri a compensation of ₦100 million and issue a public apology, warning that failure to meet these demands would result in legal action.
“This case is a painful reminder of the deep rot, criminality, and impunity that plague the Nigeria Police Force,” Effiong stated. “There are countless other innocent Nigerians languishing in detention because of a broken, corrupt system. Quadri’s story must not be just another footnote.” 
Meanwhile, celebrations broke out in Quadri’s Amukoko neighborhood as news of his freedom spread, with many describing it as a rare but hard-fought victory for ordinary citizens against an oppressive system.
As Quadri reunites with his family, his story stands as a stark symbol of resilience against systemic injustice — and a chilling warning about the dangers faced by Nigeria’s youth in the face of unchecked police power.
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