Prominent human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has revealed that over N10 million has been raised in just four days to support 17-year-old Quadri Alabi — the teenager who went viral during the 2023 elections for courageously standing in front of Peter Obi’s convoy.
Effiong made this known during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, expressing hope in the collective goodwill of Nigerians.
“I can confirm to you that as of this morning, we’ve raised over N10 million in barely four days for Quadri. It re-energises our hope in the Nigerian spirit. Within the first two hours, we had raised over N3 million.
“In 2023, the donation that was given to him wasn’t even close to this, and you saw what they (the area boys) did to him,” Effiong said.
According to the lawyer, Quadri and his family have since been relocated for their safety, and steps are being taken to provide them with stable accommodation and financial support.
“We’ve completely taken them out of that community; we’ve put them where it is safe. We’re working on getting fresh accommodation in a different place.
“The mother is a petty trader; she needs some financial support to stabilise, so part of that money will go to that, and then we may have to decide on whether to put the rest in a deposit for him, because the money was first for him.
“The point is to ensure that he is rehabilitated and he doesn’t go back to a place that will make him vulnerable to that kind of attack; that is the least we owe Quadri.”
Quadri, who was arrested in January 2025 over alleged armed robbery, was recently released after the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins, issued legal advice confirming that there was no evidence against him. He had been standing trial alongside Muiz Animashaun and three others.
Following his release by the Apapa Magistrates’ Court on April 17, Effiong called for disciplinary action against the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Amukoko Division and officers involved in what he described as a malicious frame-up orchestrated by rogue area boys.
“Are the police saying that they know his age better than his mother? It is just an act of mischief. The statement of the police is embarrassing; it is despicable. They should tell the police what is going on,” he added.
Effiong is also demanding N100 million in compensation from the police for his client, who, he said, was unlawfully detained for several months and wrongly accused.
