17-Year-Old Quadri Alabi, Who Stood in Front of Peter Obi’s Convoy During the 2023 General Election, Has Regained His Freedom

Quadri Alabi, the teenager who captured national attention during Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election for bravely standing in front of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s convoy, has regained his freedom.

The 17-year-old had spent nearly three months at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos before being discharged by a Magistrate Court in Apapa on April 17, 2025.

The decision to release him followed legal advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which concluded that there was no credible evidence to support the serious armed robbery charge filed against him.

“We are excited to announce that Quadri Yusuf Alabi, the 17-year-old teenager who gained fame during the 2023 elections after he spontaneously jumped and stood in front of the convoy of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has been freed by the court today,” said his lawyer, human rights activist Inibehe Effiong, in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).

According to Effiong, Quadri had been falsely accused by two known individuals in the Amukoko area, identified as Lege and Baba Waris. The duo allegedly abducted him near his residence and handed him over to the police, claiming he was involved in a street altercation.

However, Effiong maintains that their actions were driven by resentment and threats they had issued since 2023, following donations Quadri received from well-wishers after his viral encounter with Peter Obi.

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To appease local tensions, Alabi’s family was reportedly pressured by community leaders to provide a cow and host a feast.

Despite the initial claims involving a street brawl, the teenager was arraigned in court on January 26, 2025, for armed robbery, an accusation he firmly denied. His age was also misrepresented as 18 years old, leading to him being held alongside four adult detainees he had no previous connection with.

After reviewing the case, the DPP advised against pursuing the charges, leading to the court’s decision to dismiss the case. Alabi was subsequently discharged by the presiding Magistrate and released from custody.

Effiong praised the DPP for its impartiality, stating, “We commend the DPP for standing by the truth in this matter.”

The case gained widespread attention in early April after being spotlighted by Hassana Nurudeen, co-founder of the Ray of Hope Prison Outreach. Public outrage grew, with many decrying the injustice faced by the young boy.

Effiong condemned the entire episode as a deliberate setup, orchestrated by local thugs in collaboration with corrupt police officers. “Qua,dri’s case is a painful example of the putrefying corruption, monstrous impunity, and pervasive injustice in the Nigeria Police Force,” he said.

Following Alabi’s release, Effiong has demanded a public apology and a compensation of N100 million from the Nigerian Police Force.

He also urged that disciplinary action be taken against the Divisional Police Officer of the Amukoko Police Station, the Investigating Police Officer, and all others involved in the unjust arrest and detention.

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