Over N10 million has been raised in just four days for 17-year-old Quadri Alabi. Recall that he was wrongfully arrested and charged by the police in Lagos before he was later released by the court.
This was disclosed by Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong.
Effiong stated this during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, where he appeared alongside Alabi.
He accused officers of the Amukoko Police Division of falsifying Alabi’s age and collaborating with local area boys to frame him for a crime he did not commit.
Alabi was arrested earlier this year and charged in connection with a street fight in the Amukoko area. However, Magistrate Adetola Olorunfemi later freed him based on legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins.
Effiong alleged that some police personnels subjected Alabi to an internal police trial as part of what he described as “an evil, sinister, oppressive, and corrupt scheme” orchestrated with support from rogue area boys.
“The boy sitting next to me, Quadri Alabi, as you know, went viral in 2023 during one of Peter Obi’s campaign tours. He spontaneously jumped in front of the convoy, raised his hand, and the photo went viral. That moment changed his life,” Effiong said.
He added that the publicity brought Alabi fame and donations, which soon attracted harassment.
“Local area boys began extorting him, saying he hadn’t ‘settled’ them. They even told his mother to buy a cow, cook rice, and throw a feast for the community. When she refused, the threats continued,” he said.
Effiong stated that this was not the first time the area boys had targeted Alabi.
“The second time, in January, he was returning home from work when he was arrested by area boys known as Leggy and Baba Waris. They claimed he ignored them despite the money he had received from Peter Obi and handed him over to the police.”
He further alleged that Alabi was detained illegally for a week and eventually charged alongside four adult men he had never met before.
“They accused him of armed robbery said to have occurred on January 22 at 10 p.m. No identification parade was conducted, and there was no evidence linking him to the crime,” Effiong said.
On the issue of age falsification, Effiong said the police deliberately stated Alabi’s age as 18 to allow his trial in a regular court.
“The police falsely claimed he was 18 in court documents. If they had said he was 17, the court would have treated the matter differently—possibly not even remanding him in a regular prison,” he said.
Alabi, recounting his experience, said, “I was just at the entrance of my house when the police came and arrested me. The area boys pointed me out. At the station, I was the youngest there. I was locked up with older men. They asked me what I did, and I said nothing.”
He added that the area boys had earlier taken his phone and money before handing him over to the police.
On the donations, Effiong confirmed that support from Nigerians had been overwhelming.
“We’ve raised over N10 million in just four days for Quadri. The goal is to relocate him from Amukoko and secure a source of income for his mother, who is a petty trader,” he said. “This shows the strength of the Nigerian spirit.”