Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has accused the Lagos State Police Command of spreading fake news in a desperate effort to cover up what he describes as a shameful and unlawful attempt to frame 17-year-old Quadri Alabi.
In a statement released on Saturday, Effiong described the police’s claims as false, provocative, and an insult to public intelligence. According to him, the young man was not involved in any criminal activity but was rather abducted by two street thugs, identified as Lege and Baba Waris, while returning home from work. He was then unlawfully handed over to the Amukoko Divisional Police Station.
Effiong said the two men and their associates have been harassing Quadri since 2023 in a bid to extort part of the donations he received after he gained national attention for bravely standing in front of Peter Obi’s presidential convoy. That moment of viral fame attracted public goodwill and financial support, which thugs have since tried to exploit.
Contrary to the police’s statement that Quadri was arrested for street fighting, robbery, and property damage, Effiong stated that his client was never involved in any of those alleged crimes. He firmly denied the police’s claim that victims and members of the community had identified Quadri. He challenged the police to produce evidence of any identification process, noting that no proper identification parade was conducted. He questioned how accurate identification could have been made, especially since the alleged incident occurred at around 10:00 p.m.
Effiong also faulted the police for failing to disclose who arrested Quadri, when, and where the arrest took place. He highlighted that such gaps in the police’s account only serve to raise more suspicions. He further pointed out that Quadri was detained alongside four adult men who are complete strangers to him. The police have not explained any connection between them and the minor.
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He emphasized that Quadri Alabi, born on September 29, 2007, is 17 years old — not 18, as falsely claimed by the police — and was illegally detained for nearly a week before being taken before a Magistrate for remand. He reminded the public that under the Nigerian Constitution, once the legal time limit for detention without charge has expired, any subsequent remand does not cure the illegality.
Despite a legal opinion from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) exonerating Quadri Alabi and a court ordering his discharge, the police have refused to back down. Instead of admitting to their error, Effiong said, the police have chosen to double down on their actions, showing what he called “shamelessness, lawlessness, and utter contempt for justice.”
Effiong condemned the conduct of the police, saying their response reflects poorly on the institution and serves as a reminder of how far the Nigeria Police Force still has to go in terms of professionalism and accountability. He announced plans to take legal action against the Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, the DPO of Amukoko, CSP Olaniran Ismaila O., and the Investigating Police Officer, Inspector Odigbe Samuel. He also stated that a formal complaint will be filed with the Police Service Commission.
“This is our country, and we will not allow agents of impunity to oppress a young Nigerian child with such abominable injustice,” Effiong said. “We shall meet them in court.”
