Alabi Quadri, the teenage supporter of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi who recently gained national attention, has expressed a strong desire to continue his education after regaining his freedom.
Speaking to journalists shortly after his release on Thursday, Quadri accompanied by his legal counsel, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong shared his aspirations and the challenges his family is currently facing.
“I want to go back to school,” Quadri said with hope in his voice. “People should please help my mother. She doesn’t have a job or any way to support us. If anyone can help us move out of where we currently live, we’d be very grateful.”
Quadri also took a moment to thank his lawyer, his family, and compassionate Nigerians who rallied around him during his ordeal. Their collective support, he said, played a major role in securing his release.
His case had drawn widespread attention after Effiong revealed that Quadri was wrongfully accused of armed robbery. The Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Babajide Martins, eventually intervened, informing the presiding magistrate, A.O. Olorunfemi, that there was no evidence linking the 17-year-old to the alleged crime. Consequently, the court ordered his immediate release.
Following the acquittal, Effiong announced that he is seeking ₦100 million in compensation from the Lagos State Government for what he described as an unlawful detention that disrupted the teenager’s life and education.
The case has sparked conversations across the country about youth rights, wrongful incarceration, and the urgent need for social justice reform. Many Nigerians have taken to social media to call for support, not just for Quadri’s return to school, but also for long-term empowerment of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
As Quadri looks to the future, his message is clear: he wants a chance at a better life, one where he can pursue his education and lift his family out of poverty with the help of kind-hearted Nigerians willing to lend a hand.
