By Ghazali Ibrahim 
A Lagos magistrate court has discharged and acquitted Alabi Quadri, the young man who became a national symbol of courage during the 2023 general elections after a viral video captured him standing boldly before the convoy of then-Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Quadri, who had been detained at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility since January 2025, was acquitted of conspiracy to commit felony and armed robbery by the Apapa Magistrate Court, Court 9, sitting at the Sikiru Adagun Courthouse in Orege, Ajegunle.
The court ruled that Quadri had no case to answer, effectively ending what his legal team and supporters described as a politically and personally motivated ordeal.
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, who has been leading Quadri’s legal defence, disclosed that the court date originally set for April 28 was brought forward after he and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) jointly applied for an expedited hearing.
Quadri’s arrest and detention had sparked outrage, especially among civil rights advocates, who believed his incarceration stemmed from jealousy and resentment among some local ‘area boys’ in his community.
These individuals, according to Effiong, were angered by the attention and goodwill Quadri received following his brief moment in the national spotlight.
Effiong revealed that Quadri was abducted near his home in January while returning from work and taken to the Amukoko Police Station popularly known as Pako Police Station by the same individuals who had allegedly been threatening him.
He was later arraigned alongside four other strangers on charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery with cutlasses, allegedly involving the theft of N579,000 in cash and mobile phones.
Despite being a minor at the time of the alleged offense, Quadri was detained with adults at the Kirikiri facility for months without trial, awaiting legal advice from the Lagos State DPP.
His acquittal today marks a significant victory for his legal team and supporters.
The courtroom saw emotional scenes as Quadri, now free, reunited with his mother and supporters who had stood by him throughout his ordeal.
Speaking after the court’s decision, Effiong said, “This case was not just about law, it was about justice. Alabi should never have been in prison in the first place.”
The ruling has been hailed by human rights groups as a reaffirmation of the importance of due process and a reminder of the dangers faced by young Nigerians who challenge the status quo.
