Lawyer Iniebehe Effiong Explains Why Boy Who Stood Before Peter Obi's Convoy is in Kirikiri Prison

• Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist, Iniebehe Effiong, has explained why Alabi Quadri was detained in prison
• Iniebehe visited Quadri at the Minimum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Apapa, Lagos and has now established what happened
• According to the lawyer, Quadri was allegedly abducted by 'Area Boys' and has been in detention since January 2025

Alabi Quadri, the Nigerian boy who went viral for standing in front of Peter Obi's convoy in 2023, is now in Kirikiri Prison.

Curious Nigerians on social media were wondering what the boy did and why he was detained.

To get first-hand information about what happened, Iniebehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer, paid a visit to the Minimum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Apapa, Lagos.

Why Alabi Quadri is in Kirikiri Prison

After his visit, Iniebehe shared what he discovered and why the authorities detained Quadri.

According to the lawyer, Quadri has been in detention since January 2025 after he was allegedly abducted by 'Area Boys.'

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The lawyer said:

"We can confirm that Alabi has been in detention since January. He was abducted by ‘Area Boys’ close to his home while returning from work."

Why 'Area Boys' allegedly abducted Alabi Quadri

According to Inibehe, the 'Area Boys' allegedly behind Quadri's ordeal were angry with him because he did not share the money he got after going viral in 2023 when he stood in front of Peter Obi's convoy.

The 'Area Boys' appeared to think that Quadri got a lot of money after he went viral, and they wanted a part of the money.

He explained:

"According to Alabi and his mother, his painful walk to prison can be attributed to the prolonged malice nursed by some self-acclaimed area boys of his locality who felt entitled to a share of the unexpected fortune that came Alabi’s way when he halted and stood in front of the convoy of the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. @PeterObi during the last electioneering campaign. Since he failed to properly “settle” some people, it has been one attack to another."

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Alabi Quadri: 6 things to know about boy who stood in front of Peter Obi's convoy

How Alabi Quadri was dragged to police station

The lawyer said Quadri was dragged to Amukoko Police Station (Pako Police Station) by the same 'Area Boys' who allegedly abducted him on his way from work.

He said:

"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 has been involved in street fights."

Alabi Quadri is charged to court by police in Lagos

According to lawyer Iniebehe, the police charged Quadri to court, accusing him of armed robbery.

He said the boy was dragged to court alongside four other persons who were total strangers to him.

His words:

"However, it came as a rude shock when the police took him before a magistrate along with four other individuals who are complete strangers to him, alleging that he conspired with them to commit “armed robbery” with cutlasses. The police in the charge sheet alleged that the alleged two victims were robbed of money and four mobile phones. The value of both the physical cash and four phones is N579,000 only."

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Lawyer insists Alabi Quadri is a minor

Lawyer Iniebehe said he spent two hours with Quadri, trying to establish the truth in the allegations levelled against him.

He said the boy is a minor who is less than 18 years old, noting that he would do all he could to have him released.

He noted:

"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. The last point that we want to state on the record is that Alabi is a minor. He is less than 18 years."

What happens next in the Alabi Quadri case?

Having appeared before the magistrate three times, the lawyer said Quadri was then remanded in prison, alongside four strangers who are all adults.

He said the case is awaiting legal advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

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He said:

"Currently, Alabi has appeared before the magistrate on three occasions. 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). We shall provide additional information and the available legal options subsequently. Suffice it to say that we will do all that is legally permissible to secure Alabi’s freedom."

The lawyer suggested that Alabi already has legal representation when he mentioned "that we will do all that is legally permissible to secure Alabi’s freedom".

See the full post below:

Reactions as Alabi Quadri is sent to prison

@AfamDeluxo said:

"His only crime was becoming famous in the last Presidential election. Nigeria is a crime scene. Where did this mindset of "settle" come from?"

@Morris_Monye said:

"So much criminality in the system. Thank you for heeding the call to intervene in this."

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@Allezamani said:

"Who is the IPO of the case, the police officer that did the false charge, what happens to them?"

Lawyer criticised Nigerian justice system

In a separate post on Thursday, April 10, Lawyer Inibehe talked about the rot in the Nigerian justice system, adding that "there is no atrocity that is too scary for the police in Nigeria". He also mentioned:

"There are people in prisons across Nigeria whose whereabouts are unknown to their family members."

Alabi Quadri's photo goes viral

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that when the campaign train of Peter Obi berthed in Lagos on Saturday, February 11, 2023, a boy was captured welcoming him.

The boy named Yusuf Alabi was captured with his arms wide open and standing in front of Obi's convoy.

24 hours after the photo went viral, someone allegedly minted and put it up for sale on OpenSea where it is listed for N349,000.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng