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By Myke Agunwa
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi on Friday, visited Alabi Yusuf Quadri, the boy that halted his convoy during his presidential campaign tour in Lagos.
Recall that Quadri attracted global attention during the 2023 electionetering campaign when he stood in front of Obi’s moving convoy in Lagos.
The boy, a minor, is detained at the Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre in Apapa over robbery allegation.
Making the disclosure on his verified X handle, the interim national coordinator of Obedient movement, Tanko Yakassai reported that, Obi paid a visit to the minor as part of his working visit in Lagos.
Tanko wrote, “During the visit, he (Obi) connected with Quadri’s mother and sister, standing in solidarity with the family and expressing unwavering support during this difficult time.”
Earlier, a prominent human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, had announced the boys’ detention at the Minimum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Apapa, since January 2025.
According to Effiong, Quadri’s ordeal stems from his refusal to “settle” certain individuals who felt entitled to a portion of the money he received after the viral incident involving Obi’s convoy.
“Since he failed to properly ‘settle’ some people, it has been one attack to another.
“After abducting Alabi, the same area boys who have been threatening to deal with him for not sharing the money he was gifted dragged him to the Amukoko Police Station (Pako Police Station), where he was detained.
“The area boys initially claimed that Alabi was one of the young men who had been involved in street fights,” Effiong stated.
Effiong said the police then arraigned Quadri before a magistrate along with four adults who were total strangers to him, charging them with conspiracy to commit armed robbery with cutlasses. The alleged stolen items included four mobile phones and cash valued at ₦579,000.
Effiong, who visited the Apapa Magisterial District and later Kirikiri alongside Quadri’s mother, relatives, and a social activist, expressed deep concern over the miscarriage of justice, especially as Quadri is under 18 and legally considered a minor.
“The court remanded him along with the four strange individuals who are all adults at the custodial centre pending legal advice by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP),” he said.
Effiong further stressed that the charges appear fabricated and disconnected from the reality of Quadri’s life and experiences.
“I spent about two hours interviewing Alabi about the veracity of the charges brought by the police. Speaking objectively, we all left Kirikiri with a strong conviction that this gentleman is just another victim of Nigeria’s criminal justice system,” he said.
The human rights lawyer assured the public that his legal team would pursue all lawful means to secure Qadri’s release.
“We shall provide additional information and the available legal options subsequently. Suffice to say that we will do all that is legally permissible to secure Alabi’s freedom,” Effiong assured.