By Ali Elias
Former presidential candidate and Labour Party leader, Mr. Peter Obi, has called for clarity and justice in the case of Quadri Yusuf Alabi, a young Nigerian who has been held in detention for over three months without trial.
Obi raised the alarm in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, following his participation at a Commonwealth event in London. He expressed concern over the prolonged detention and urged the authorities to disclose the nature of the boy’s offence, if any.
“After delivering my speech at the Commonwealth event in London today, I was made aware of the predicament of a young boy named Quadri Yusuf Alabi, who has been detained for over three months without trial, appeared in court for the first time in March, and still remains held in custody,” Obi wrote.
According to Obi, he has already taken steps to intervene by reaching out to Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Barrister Inibehe Effiong, who is now representing the detained youth. Effiong has confirmed his involvement in the case and is reportedly working to secure Alabi’s release.
While the exact offence for which Quadri Yusuf Alabi is being held remains unclear at press time, Obi stressed the importance of transparency and legal due process.
“I sincerely appeal to the police and other agents of the government to always operate within the law and the rules,” Obi stated. “Stop the weaponizing citizens, especially our youths, who need our care and love to unleash their talents and energy towards building a new Nigeria that is possible.”
Legal experts and civil society groups have also weighed in on the incident, condemning the detention of individuals without charge or timely trial as a breach of constitutional rights and international human rights standards.
A check by this newspaper as of Thursday morning did not yield any official statement from the police regarding the charges, if any, against Quadri Yusuf Alabi. Rights advocates argue that this lack of transparency is precisely why public figures like Obi are stepping in.
Barrister Inibehe Effiong, in a brief comment, confirmed that legal steps are underway but declined to share further details at this stage.
The case is likely to draw more public attention in the coming days as Nigerians increasingly demand accountability in the justice system, especially regarding the treatment of young citizens.