Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has accused the Lagos State Police Command of disseminating false information in a bid to cover up what he describes as the “atrocious frame-up” of his client, 17-year-old Quadri Alabi.
In a stern statement issued on Saturday, April 19, 2025, Effiong described the police’s recent press release on the matter as “false and provocative,” alleging that it was an attempt to mislead the public about the fabricated charges brought against the teenager.
“The statement is not only laughable, it is ridiculous,” Effiong said. “It is embarrassing to see the police spread disinformation and fake news about an innocent Nigerian child.”
According to the lawyer, Alabi was abducted by two men identified as Lege and Baba Waris described as “Area Boys” while returning from work and subsequently dumped at the Amukoko Divisional Police Station. Effiong said these same individuals have been harassing Alabi since 2023 in a bid to extort him following donations made to the teenager after he famously stood in front of the convoy of Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
Responding to the police’s claim that Alabi was arrested for alleged involvement in street fighting, robbery, and destruction of property, Effiong firmly denied the accusations.
“Quadri was not involved in street fighting, he did not rob anyone, and he did not damage any property,” Effiong stated. He also challenged the police’s assertion that Alabi was identified by victims and members of the community.
“There was no time our client was identified by any victim of the alleged crimes,” he said. “The police should tell the public when and where the identification was done, and the method used. How was Quadri identified when no identification parade was conducted, especially since the alleged offences took place around 10pm?”
Effiong further criticized what he described as inconsistencies in the police narrative, noting that the police failed to disclose who exactly arrested Alabi and the location of the arrest. He also questioned the alleged connection between Alabi and four adult suspects who were remanded alongside him.
“The so-called casemates of Quadri are adults unknown to him,” he said. “The police failed to explain the relationship or connection between them.”
He added that Alabi was unlawfully detained for about a week before being brought before a Magistrate an action he argued violated constitutional limits on detention without trial.
“Once the permissible constitutional limit for detaining a suspect has passed, a subsequent remand order cannot cure the infringement,” Effiong asserted.
He also expressed outrage over the police’s response following legal developments in the case. “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 show remorse has chosen the ignoble path of doubling down on its acts of perfidy, shamelessness, lawlessness, and utter contempt for justice and the truth.”
Effiong condemned the police’s handling of the case, stating that the Nigeria Police Force “is reminding the country that it is very far from redemption.”
He vowed to pursue legal redress, naming specific officers including Commissioner of Police CP Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, the Divisional Police Officer of Amukoko CSP Olaniran Ismaila O., and the Investigating Police Officer, Inspector Odigbe Samuel as those who would be brought before a court in the coming days.
“We shall meet them in court to seek redress and adequate compensation for Quadri,” he said. “We will also file a formal complaint with the Police Service Commission against the lawless DPO of Amukoko.”
Concluding, Effiong emphasized: “Nigeria is our country. We will not allow agents of impunity to get away with such abominable oppression of a Nigerian child.”