Viral Kid In Peter Obi’s Campaign Picture Released From Prison Following False Crime Charges Levelled Against Him.
A 17-year-old teenager, Quadri Yusuf Alabi, who gained public attention in 2023 for standing in front of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s convoy, has been released from Kirikiri Medium Security Custodial Centre, his lawyer announced on 17 April 2025.
The release follows months of detention on what his legal team described as a fabricated armed robbery charge orchestrated by officers at Amukoko Divisional Police Headquarters in Lagos.
According to a statement by Quadri’s lead counsel, Inibehe Effiong, the teenager was abducted near his family home in Amukoko, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area, by two individuals known locally as “Area Boys,” identified as Lege and Baba Waris. The statement alleged that the duo, along with other local youths, had been harassing Quadri since 2023, demanding a share of donations he received during the election period. Effiong claimed the abductors handed Quadri over to the police, initially accusing him of street fighting.
Effiong further stated that on 26 January 2025, officers at Amukoko Police Station brought Quadri before a magistrate in Apapa, securing an order to remand him in Kirikiri on a charge of armed robbery. The lawyer alleged that the police falsely linked Quadri with four unrelated adults, presenting them as his accomplices, and misrepresented his age as 18 to obscure the case’s irregularities.
The case came to public attention through Hassana Nurudeen, co-founder of Ray of Hope Prison Outreach, prompting Quadri’s mother to engage Effiong’s legal team. The lawyer said his firm escalated the matter, leading to a review by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins. The DPP’s legal advice, presented in court on 17 April, reportedly found no evidence to support the armed robbery charge. Presiding Magistrate A.O. Olorunfemi subsequently discharged Quadri, allowing his release.
Effiong praised the DPP for upholding the truth but condemned what he called a “diabolical frame-up” by the police. He demanded the immediate removal and trial of the Amukoko Divisional Police Officer, Inspector Odigbe Samuel, and other involved officers. Additionally, he called for the Nigeria Police Force to pay Quadri ₦100 million in compensation and issue a public apology. Effiong warned that failure to meet these demands would result in legal action.
The statement described Quadri’s ordeal as emblematic of widespread corruption and injustice within the Nigeria Police Force, claiming many others remain unjustly detained due to systemic failures. Effiong vowed that history would vindicate those seeking justice.
The Lagos State Police Command has yet to respond to the allegations. Quadri’s release marks a significant victory for his family and supporters, who have campaigned for his freedom since his detention.
