2 weeks Ago By Ado Oyeyemi
The Lagos State Police Command has explained the arrest and detention of Alabi Quadri, a teenager who gained attention during the 2023 presidential campaign for standing in front of Labour Party candidate Peter Obi’s convoy. Quadri was remanded in a correctional facility earlier this year following his alleged involvement in a violent street clash in the Amukoko area of Lagos. According to a statement issued Saturday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the incident occurred on January 22 and involved a large group of youths.
The clash reportedly led to injuries, damage to property, and the robbery of innocent passersby. The police said that following their investigation—supported by eyewitnesses and victims—Quadri and four others were arrested and charged to court. The court ordered their remand pending further legal proceedings.
Hundeyin stated that all police actions were based on credible evidence and in accordance with due process. He urged the public to remain calm and allow the judicial system to run its course, reiterating the command’s commitment to transparency, justice, and community engagement. However, Quadri was released on Thursday after spending about three months in custody.
A Magistrate Court in Apapa ordered his release based on legal advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, which found no evidence to support the charge of armed robbery brought against him. His lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, described the case as a “diabolical frame-up,” alleging that two known figures in the Amukoko area, identified as Lege and Baba Waris, abducted Quadri near his home and handed him over to the police. Effiong claimed his client was falsely accused of being part of the fight and linked the situation to earlier threats from the same individuals, allegedly due to donations Alabi received from supporters of Peter Obi.
Effiong also noted that Alabi, a minor, had his age wrongly recorded as 18 and was detained alongside four adults he had never met. Despite the original allegations relating to a street fight, police charged him with armed robbery on January 26. Community leaders reportedly pressured his family to host a peace-making feast by buying a cow, adding to the ordeal.
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