Lagos Court Frees Boy Who Stood In Front Of Obi’s Convoy During 2023 Campaigns

THE Apapa Magistrate Court, Court 9, sitting at Sikiru Adagun Courthouse, Orege-Ajegunle, on Thursday, April 17, discharged and acquitted Alabi Quadri, the young boy who stood in front of the convoy of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during the 2023 campaigns and gained popularity for his courage.
Quadri was discharged and acquitted of conspiracy to commit felony and armed robbery after the court held that he had no case to answer.
The Nigerian Correctional Service produced Quadri at the Apapa Magistrate Court after he had spent months in Kirikiri Prison, Lagos.
His case was initially slated for a hearing on April 28, but human rights lawyer and activist, Inibehe Effiong, said both himself and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) requested that the date be moved forward, an application the court granted.
Effiong said Quadri found himself in the Nigerian prison system not due to any major crime, but rather a result of prolonged malice and resentment by some self-acclaimed ‘area boys’ (thugs) in his neighbourhood.
He explained that the street urchins felt entitled to a portion of the unexpected attention and goodwill, including financial support, that Quadri received following his moment in the spotlight during the 2023 presidential campaign.
Effiong, who recently visited the Apapa Magisterial Court in Lagos alongside Quadri’s mother and legal colleagues, stated that the boy’s journey to Kirikiri was not only heartbreaking, but also appeared to be the outcome of a vendetta by local ‘area boys’ who felt entitled to the financial support he received after the photo of him in front of Obi’s convoy went viral.
His rising public profile reportedly led to envy and resentment within his local community.
Effiong disclosed that Quadri was abducted in January near his home while returning from work by the ‘area boys,’ who had been threatening him, and allegedly took him to Amukoko Police Station (popularly known as Pako Police Station), accusing him of being involved in street fights.
Quadri was subsequently arraigned before a Magistrate Court along with four other persons, complete strangers to him, on allegations of conspiracy to commit armed robbery with cutlasses.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged victims were robbed of N579,000, comprising cash and four mobile phones.
Effiong stressed that despite being a minor, Quadri had been detained with adults at Kirikiri Prison since January, pending legal advice from the Lagos State DPP.