The Lagos State Police Command has denied claims that Quadri Alabi, the teenager known for standing in front of Peter Obi’s convoy during the 2023 presidential campaigns, was arrested by thugs and handed over to the police.
The Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Moshood, said on Tuesday that it was actually the Divisional Police Officer of Amukoko Division who arrested Quadri, not hoodlums as claimed by his lawyer.
Moshood made this statement during an interview on Channels Television’s *The Morning Brief*. He explained that the DPO had received a distress call reporting damage to public property, assault on people, and phone theft in the area. Acting on that report, the DPO arrested several suspects, including Quadri.
“It was the DPO who made the arrest based on the distress call. It was not just Quadri; about five others were arrested at the same time,” the police boss said.
Earlier, Quadri’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, had told the same programme on Monday that his client was attacked and handed over to the police by ‘area boys’. He said the boys were angry because they believed Peter Obi had given Quadri money, which he didn’t share with them.
Effiong also claimed that Quadri’s mother confronted one of the ‘area boys’, who allegedly admitted to the act, saying, “The money you refused to give us, you’ll now use it to settle police.”
But the police commissioner insisted the arrest was carried out properly by law enforcement and not by private individuals. He added, “Every private person has the right to make a citizen’s arrest, but in this case, the DPO made the arrest after receiving a report.”
When asked about the lawyer’s demand for an apology, the CP replied, “Why should I apologise when the investigation is not yet complete? We are doing our job to keep Nigerians safe.”
On April 17, a Magistrates’ Court in Apapa released Quadri after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr Babajide Martins, issued legal advice that there was no evidence to prove the armed robbery allegation against him.
The advice also recommended that Quadri and another suspect, Muiz Animashaun, should not be prosecuted. Both had been standing trial with three others for alleged armed robbery.
