A teenager named Alabi Quadri, who was detained for three months following his arraignment by officers of the Lagos State Police Command on charges of armed robbery, was released on Thursday and is now demanding N100 million in compensation from the police.
Quadri gained fame on the internet after he positioned himself in front of the convoy of Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate for 2023, during his visit to Lagos that year.
His ordeal reportedly began when some troublemakers in his Amukoko community allegedly demanded a portion of the money purportedly given to him by Obi during their encounter.
In a statement issued shortly after his release, his legal counsel, Inibehe Effiong, recounted that the boys had abducted him while he was returning from work and later dropped him off at a local police station on the suspicion that he was involved in street fighting.
Effiong recounted that the police station had brought Quadri before the court on charges of armed robbery and applied for a remand order, which the court approved, resulting in Quadri’s detention at the Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre.
Quadri’s legal counsel called for the prosecution of all police officers implicated in the case.
Effiong further demanded that the police pay N100 million in damages to Quadri, warning that failure to do so would result in a lawsuit against them.
“We demand that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, and the Inspector General of Police, should as a matter of urgency, remove the DPO of Amukoko Divisional Headquarters and subject him to orderly room trial along with the IPO, one Inspector Odigbe Samuel, and other officers who participated in this evil, sinister, oppressive, and corrupt scheme of framing-up a teenager for armed robbery at the behest of rogue ‘Area Boys’.
“We demand that the Nigeria Police Force should pay the sum of N100m to our client as compensation. Also, we demand a public apology from the police.
“If the above three remedial demands are not fully complied with immediately, we shall initiate legal actions to seek redress,” Effiong concluded.
He continued, “Quadri’s family informed us that the community baale equally pressured them to buy a cow and rice and cook for the community to appease the area boys. The abductors initially told the officers at Amukoko Police Station that our client was involved in street fighting.
“To the consternation of Quadri and his family, the police on January 26, 2025, took Quadri 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.
“The police fraudulently joined Quadri with four strange adults who had no connection or relationship with him, and claimed that the four strange men were his casemates.”
Effiong added that the police also misrepresented his age before the court to prevent suspicion.
He noted that following the intervention of the legal representative and the advice of the Lagos State Department of Public Prosecution, Quadri was freed by the presiding judge.
“As part of the diabolical frame-up of our client, the officers at Amukoko Police Station also misrepresented his age to be 18, knowing that disclosing his actual age would likely raise eyebrows.
“At the Court today, the presiding Magistrate, His Honour, A. O. Olorunfemi (Mrs.), confirmed that the legal advice issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions, of the Ministry of Justice, Lagos State, Dr. Babajide Martins showed that there was no evidence to substantiate the allegation of armed robbery against Quadri.
“In his Legal Advice, the DPP recommended the non-prosecution of Quadri. Thus, the presiding Magistrate discharged him, and he was accordingly freed. We commend the DPP for standing by the truth in this matter,” Effiong stated.
Meanwhile, the lawyer, Effiong, has launched an urgent fundraising appeal for Quadri Alabi.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Effiong revealed that following Quadri’s release from court, it became clear that returning to his family home in Amukoko, Lagos, was no longer safe.
“This appeal has become imperative due to active threats to Quadri and his family. As of this morning, they still received threats,” he said.
According to him, those responsible for Quadri’s ordeal have continued to pose a danger, with the family receiving fresh threats as recently as Thursday morning.
“Amukoko is no longer safe for them, those behind his travails can easily target him or his family members again,” Effiong said.
Effiong disclosed that they had arranged hotel accommodation for the family for the night while stressing the urgent need for financial support to facilitate their relocation.
The fundraiser, launched at the request of Quadri’s family, aims to help them move to a safer location, cover basic living expenses, and support Quadri’s rehabilitation.
In addition to relocation efforts, the appeal also seeks to support Quadri’s mother, a petty trader, who is struggling to provide for her children following the death of her husband.
“She has pleaded with Nigerians to assist her financially to enable her to cater for herself and her children,” Effiong noted.
Beyond immediate security needs, Effiong emphasised the importance of giving Quadri a second chance at life.
The young man, he said, has shown a strong desire to return to school and also acquire a vocational skill.
“We need to rehabilitate Quadri for him to be useful to himself and society,” he added.
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