In a dramatic twist of fate, over ₦10 million has been raised in just four days to rescue 17-year-old Quadri Alabi—a teenager whose life took a harrowing turn after a viral encounter with Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Renowned human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, made this revelation during a live interview on Channels Television on Monday, where he appeared alongside Alabi, the boy at the center of what he described as a “sinister, oppressive, and corrupt” police conspiracy.
Alabi gained national attention in 2023 when a photo of him spontaneously raising his hand in front of Peter Obi’s convoy during a campaign tour in Lagos went viral. The image inspired hope and donations, momentarily lifting his family from hardship. But what should have been a Cinderella story quickly devolved into a nightmare.
“With visibility came vulnerability,” Effiong said. “Area boys in Amukoko began demanding a share of the goodwill he received. They harassed his mother, insisting she host a community feast with cow and rice. When she refused, they turned vindictive.”
In January, Alabi was abducted by two notorious local thugs—Leggy and Baba Waris—while returning from work. According to Effiong, these men handed him over to officers at the Amukoko Police Division, accusing him of refusing to “settle” them from the money he received after going viral.
“The police, rather than investigate, embraced the lies and ran with them,” Effiong alleged. “They accused Quadri of being part of a violent street fight and later, astonishingly, charged him alongside four adult strangers for armed robbery.”
The teenager was detained for a week before appearing in court on January 27. Effiong disclosed that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Ismaila Ulaniro, kept the boy in illegal custody, flouting basic legal procedures. “There was no investigation, no evidence, no identification parade—just pure fabrication,” he said.
One of the most disturbing aspects of the case, Effiong revealed, was the deliberate falsification of Alabi’s age. “The police claimed he was 18 to ensure he’d be tried as an adult, but he’s just 17. The magistrate even raised concerns but said she had to go with the age documented by the police.”
Alabi recounted his ordeal on air, still visibly shaken: “I was standing at the entrance of my house when they grabbed me. They’d already stolen my phone and the money in my pocket. At the station, I was the youngest. They threw me into a cell with older men. Nobody listened when I said I did nothing.”
Eventually, justice prevailed—at least partially. Magistrate Adetola Olorunfemi struck out the charges and ordered his release based on legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins.
Now, thanks to an outpouring of public sympathy and donations, Alabi may finally get a fresh start.
“We’ve raised over ₦10 million in four days,” Effiong confirmed. “The priority now is relocating him from Amukoko for his safety and empowering his mother, a petty trader, to start afresh. This is a testament to the resilience and compassion of the Nigerian people.”
Alabi’s story is a chilling reminder of how easily innocent lives can be crushed under the weight of institutional failure—and a stirring example of what can happen when a nation refuses to look away.
PIONEER NEWS 