Lagos, Nigeria – A Lagos court has discharged and acquitted Alabi Quadri, the teenager who went viral in 2023 for standing in front of Peter Obi’s campaign convoy. Quadri had been detained since January 2025 on allegations of armed robbery, which his lawyer and supporters have consistently denied.
The verdict was delivered on April 17, 2025, at the Apapa Magistrate Court, presided over by Magistrate A. O. Olorunfemi. The court found no substantial evidence linking Quadri to the alleged crime, ending his months-long legal ordeal.
Quadri’s lawyer, Barrister Inibehe Effiong, described the case as a miscarriage of justice, noting that the boy was a victim of a flawed criminal justice system. Effiong revealed that Quadri was abducted by local youths so-called "area boys" who were angry over not receiving a share of gifts Quadri had received following his viral moment during Peter Obi’s campaign. These youths handed him over to the police, who charged him alongside unrelated individuals with armed robbery.
Effiong also highlighted concerns about the treatment of Quadri as a minor, being held with adults and detained for months without trial. The lawyer thanked Peter Obi for his intervention and vowed to continue advocating for justice.
Human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi was present in court to support Quadri, emphasizing the significance of the acquittal for justice and youth rights in Nigeria.