Apapa’s district court released 17-year-old minor Alabi Quadri, who drove numerous ahead of the election ahead of the 2023 election for standing in front of former Labor presidential candidate Peter Peter Obi.
Quadri was wrongly detained for several months for armed robbery. He was fired by the District Court on Wednesday, April 16 after the Lagos State Department of Justice’s Public Prosecutions Director (DPP) found no evidence to support the allegations against him.
The teenager has been remanded in the mid-sized security custody center in Kirikiri since January 26, 2025, after his legal team described it as a “devil-like framework” of police officers at the Amukoko department headquarters.
According to his lead attorney, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, Esq. Quadri was kidnapped by two known area boys in his community – identified as Lege and Baba Waris, who had previously harassed donations he received during the 2023 election season.
“When Quadri was caught by these people, he was returning from get off work and they repeatedly threatened that he had not shared the financial gifts he received. His family was even under pressure from Baale (community leader) to appease the boys in the area with cattle, rice and feasts.”
Quadri’s case was initially accused of participating in a street fight, and when police accused him of armed robbery and introduced him to the magistrate, the case went dark. Shockingly, he was composed of four adult suspects and had no acquaintance with him. Police also mistakenly listed his age as 18 to avoid scrutiny of juvenile cases.
Effiong’s team was involved in the case last week after co-founder of the incident attracted public attention from Hassana Nurudeen of Hope prison outreach. After a quick legal intervention, the court reviewed the DPP’s legal advice, which suggested that Quadri would not be prosecuted due to lack of evidence.
Host AO Olorunfemi (Madam) Therefore, Quadri releases Quadri, bringing the teenager to an end the painful chapter.
