Alabi Quadri, a 17-year-old detained for months after standing in front of Peter Obi’s convoy during the 2023 elections, has been freed by a Lagos court. The judge ruled he had no case to answer. His release, following public outcry and legal efforts, sparks calls for justice and compensation.
A 17-year-old boy, Alabi Quadri, who was arrested during the 2023 presidential campaign for standing in front of the convoy of the Labour Party’s Peter Obi, has finally regained his freedom after months of detention.
On Thursday, April 17, 2025, a Magistrate Court in Apapa, Lagos, ruled that Quadri had no case to answer and ordered his release. The court, presided over by Magistrate Adetola Olorunfemi, discharged and acquitted the teenager based on legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which confirmed that the charges of conspiracy and armed robbery were baseless.
Quadri had spent several months in Kirikiri Prison following his arrest during a politically tense moment when a viral video showed him standing in front of Obi’s convoy—a move that many interpreted as a symbolic act of defiance.
Originally, his case was scheduled to be heard on April 28, but thanks to the intervention of prominent human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong and the DPP, an earlier court date was secured, leading to Thursday’s ruling.
The incident has sparked public outrage, with many on social media questioning why a minor was incarcerated for so long over a nonviolent act. There are also growing calls for compensation and psychological support for Quadri, who has become a symbol of injustice in the country.
Supporters have hailed his release as a win for social justice, praising both the legal intervention and the power of social media in bringing attention to the case.
