In a startling twist of fate, a once-celebrated teenager who captivated the nation with his audacious encounter with Peter Obi’s presidential convoy is now languishing behind bars at the Kirikiri Minimum Security Custodial Centre in Lagos. Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has raised the alarm over what he describes as a vicious conspiracy that plunged the young boy, Alabi Quadri, into Nigeria’s notorious criminal justice system.
Alabi, who became an overnight sensation during the run-up to the 2023 general elections after a video of him standing resolutely before Mr. Peter Obi’s convoy went viral, is now caught in a legal nightmare that reeks of envy, betrayal, and systemic failure.
According to Effiong, Alabi’s descent into legal turmoil is not borne out of criminal conduct, but rather a product of resentment and malice harbored by local thugs—popularly referred to as ‘area boys’—who felt slighted by the attention and goodwill that followed his viral moment.
“These individuals felt entitled to a share of the unexpected fortune that came Alabi’s way after his encounter with Mr. Peter Obi,” Effiong stated, following a visit to the Apapa Magistrate Court on Wednesday. The lawyer was accompanied by Alabi’s distressed mother and other members of his legal team.
Effiong narrated how Alabi was abducted in January by these disgruntled area boys as he returned from work near his home. They dragged him to the notorious Amukoko Police Station—also known as Pako Station—on trumped-up allegations of involvement in street brawls.
The situation escalated dramatically when Alabi was arraigned before a Magistrate Court alongside four total strangers on allegations of conspiracy to commit armed robbery—charges Effiong vehemently described as baseless and fabricated.
“The charge sheet alleges they robbed victims of N579,000 in cash and four mobile phones. It came as a rude shock when the police arraigned him with strangers,” Effiong said. “We spent over two hours with him at Kirikiri, and speaking objectively, we left with a strong conviction that this young man is merely another victim of Nigeria’s deeply broken criminal justice system.”
What is even more disturbing is the revelation that Alabi is a minor—under 18 years old—yet has been detained with adult inmates in one of Nigeria’s most notorious custodial facilities since January. His case has already come up in court three times, with no resolution in sight as legal advice from the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) remains pending.
“The remand of a minor with adults in a custodial centre is not just unlawful, it is a gross violation of his fundamental human rights,” Effiong asserted. “This is not justice—it is a travesty.”
Effiong pledged that his team would exhaust every available legal option to secure Alabi’s release and hold accountable those responsible for this egregious abuse of power.
“We shall provide additional information and the available legal options subsequently. Suffice it to say that we will do all that is legally permissible to secure Alabi’s freedom,” he concluded.
As the nation watches, many are left wondering—how did a moment of courage that inspired millions descend into a tale of persecution and incarceration?
PIONEER NEWS 