By Abiola Olawale
The Apapa Magistrate Court in Lagos has acquitted and discharged Alabi Quadri, a teenager who captured national attention during the 2023 presidential election for boldly standing in front of Peter Obi’s campaign convoy.
The decision, delivered on April 17, 2025, brings relief to Quadri’s family, supporters, and human rights advocates who decried his months-long detention at Kirikiri Prison.
Quadri, a teenager, had been in the dentition of charges bordering on conspiracy to commit a felony and armed robbery.
His case gained public attention after allegations emerged that Quadri was being unlawfully remanded in prison.
In his judgment on Thursday, Magistrate Adetola Olorunfemi freed him following the legal advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr Babajide Martins.
The magistrate confirmed that the legal advice issued by the DPP 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 and another defendant, Muiz Animashaun.
Quadri and Animashaun were standing trial alongside three others for the offence of armed robbery.
The DPP, in his advice, however, recommended that a prima facie case had been made against the other three defendants, and they should proceed to stand trial.
Speaking with the press after the judgement, counsel for Quadri, Inibehe Effiong, commended the DPP for standing by the truth in this matter.
He also demanded 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 what he called the “evil, sinister, oppressive, and corrupt scheme of framing-up a teenager for armed robbery at the behest of rogue ‘Area Boys’”.
The lawyer demanded that the Nigeria Police Force pay ₦100 million in compensation to his client and issue a public apology.
He said: “Many Quadris are languishing in detention centres across Nigeria because of the unbridled criminality, lawlessness, and lack of accountability in the Police institution and the weakness of the justice system. History will vindicate the just.”
