Quadri Alabi Accused in Lagos Street Fight Claims Brutality in Detention, Police Misconduct Alleged
Lagos, Nigeria – Quadri Alabi, the 17-year-old who gained notoriety after standing before presidential candidate Peter Obi’s convoy in 2023, has made harrowing allegations about his treatment while detained at the Kirikiri correctional facility. In a Monday interview with Channels TV, alongside his lawyer Inibehe Effiong, Alabi recounted a deeply disturbing experience, painting a picture of systemic abuse and potential police misconduct.
Alabi, arrested in connection with a street fight in Amukoko, Lagos, claimed he was forced to clean human waste daily at Kirikiri. “They treated me like I had no family,” he said, describing his ordeal. “From morning till six o’clock, I cleaned feces because I couldn’t afford to pay the marshals.” Alabi, arrested after being led by unruly youths, asserts that his phone and any money he possessed were taken before his detention.
The alleged incident took place after the boy’s photo circulated online following his presence at the campaign rally. Alabi said the ‘area boys’ who had earlier taken his belongings, then began harassing him, demanding a cut of the donations generated by the publicity surrounding his presence at the rally. He was subsequently arrested.
Alabi’s legal representative, Inibehe Effiong, further detailed alarming allegations regarding the handling of the case. Effiong claims that police documents falsely indicated Alabi’s age as 18, intentionally misleading the court. “If they had accurately reported his age as 17,” Effiong stated, “the court would have handled the matter differently, possibly not even remanding him in a general prison. The magistrate acknowledged this discrepancy, but had no grounds to question the false age documentation.”
Adding another layer of concern, Effiong detailed an alleged internal police trial orchestrated by the Amukoko Divisional Police Officer (DPO). The lawyer accused the DPO and other officers, including Inspector Odigbe Samuel, of perpetrating an “evil, sinister, oppressive, and corrupt scheme” aimed at framing Alabi for armed robbery, supposedly instigated by malicious “area boys”.
Alabi’s case raises significant questions about the treatment of juveniles within the Nigerian justice system and the potential for police misconduct. His account of degrading conditions and the apparent attempt to manipulate his age within the legal process warrants urgent investigation and corrective measures. The case highlights the urgent need for reforms to safeguard the rights of vulnerable individuals within the criminal justice system.
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