The family described as “preposterous that despite the Legal Advice issued by the Learned Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lagos State exonerating Quadri, and his subsequent discharge by the Court, the Lagos State Police Command rather than exude remorse, has chosen the ignoble path of doubling down on its acts of perfidy, shamelessness, lawlessness, and utter contempt for justice and the truth.
The family of Quadri Alabi, a 17-year-old Nigerian boy, has accused the Lagos State Police Command of spreading disinformation and fake news in a bid to cover up its alleged atrocities in the illegal arrest detention of their son.
The family described as “preposterous that despite the Legal Advice issued by the Learned Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lagos State exonerating Quadri, and his subsequent discharge by the Court, the Lagos State Police Command rather than exude remorse, has chosen the ignoble path of doubling down on its acts of perfidy, shamelessness, lawlessness, and utter contempt for justice and the truth.
“We condemn this gross act of recklessness and irresponsibility by the police.”
This newspaper earlier reported that the Lagos State Command explained that Quadri was arrested and charged to court for his involvement in a violent street fight in Amukoko, Lagos, on January 22, 2025.
“The Lagos State Police Command is aware of public concerns surrounding the case of Alabi Quadri, an 18-year-old who was remanded to correctional service following his involvement in violent attacks, public disturbance, causing extensive damage to public and private properties, and injuries to persons standing by in the Amukoko area of Lagos State earlier this year,” said the Command’s spokesperson CSP Benjamin Hundeyin in a statement.
“On January 22, 2025 to be precise, a serious breach of public peace and extensive damage to public and private properties occurred in Amukoko when groups of youths engaged in violent confrontations that escalated into street fights for all, causing widespread violence, panic, and chaos. During the chaos, a number of innocent passersby were reported to have been robbed and injured,” he claimed.
This newspaper had reported that Alabi, who became famous for standing in front of Labour Party candidate Peter Obi’s convoy during the 2023 presidential election, was freed on Thursday after spending nearly three months in custody by a Magistrate Court in Apapa following legal advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, which found no evidence to support the armed robbery charge against him.
Reacting to the police in a statement by the family’s counsel and human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, the family stated that the police claim that Quadri was arrested in connection with street fighting and robbery is false.
The family insisted that Quadri was abducted by two ‘Area Boys’ named Lege and Baba Waris while on his way home from work and dumped at the Amukoko Divisional Police Station.
“The police statement is not only laughable, it is ridiculous. It is embarrassing to see the police spread disinformation and fake news about an innocent Nigerian child,” Effiong said.
The lawyer pointed out several inconsistencies in the police statement, including the alleged identification of Quadri by victims without an identification parade, and the failure to disclose who arrested Quadri and where he was arrested.
According to the Effiong stated, “they also claimed that some properties were damaged, and that some persons were also robbed. According to the police, Quadri was identified by some people in the community and by the victims.
“First, we wish to restate that Quadri is not 18 years old as mischievously parroted by the police. He is 17 as contained in his birth certificate and attested to by his mother.
“He was born on the 29th day of September, 2007. Second, Quadri was not involved in street fighting and did not rob anyone, he also did not damage anyone’s property.
“Third, there was no time that our client was identified by any victim of the alleged crimes. The police should tell the public when and where the identification was done and the method used.
“How was Quadri identified by the alleged victims when no identification parade was conducted as required by law, given that the alleged offences were said to have been committed at about 10pm?”
He added, “Fourth, the police in their statement said that our client was arrested, but they failed to state who exactly arrested him and the place he was arrested. Their silence on these key points is quite revealing.
“Sixth, the so-called casemates of Quadri are adults who are not known to him. The police failed to disclose the relationship or connection between Quadri and the four adults who were remanded along with him.
“We should also state for the records that the police had detained Quadri for about a week in the police cell before unlawfully taking him before a Magistrate for remand.”
Effiong condemned the police’s actions, saying, “By taking this path, the Nigeria Police Force is reminding the country that it is very far from redemption.”
The family plans to seek redress and adequate compensation for Quadri in court and file a formal complaint with the Police Service Commission against the DPO of Amukoko.
“It is the law that once the permissible constitutional limit for detaining a suspect has passed, a subsequent order of remand cannot cure the infringement.”
He said, “We shall meet the Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, the DPO of Amukoko CSP Olaniran Ismaila O., the IPO Inspector Odigbe Samuel, and others in the court in the coming days to seek redress and adequate compensation for Quadri.
“We will also file a formal complaint with the Police Service Commission against the lawless DPO of Amukoko.
“Nigeria is our country, we will not allow agents of impunity to get away with such abominable oppression of a Nigerian child.”
