Justice for Quadri: Court Frees Boy Detained Over Obi’s Convoy

 A Lagos Magistrate Court in Yaba discharged 17-year-old Quadri Lawal on April 15, 2025, eight months after his arrest for standing in front of Labour Party leader Peter Obi’s convoy during a campaign rally on August 12, 2024, per The Punch. 

Quadri, a street hawker, was detained for “breaching public peace” after allegedly waving a flag in front of Obi’s vehicle, causing a brief halt, police records showed. The court, presided over by Magistrate Adeola Olatubosun, ruled the detention “unlawful,” citing insufficient evidence and Quadri’s age, per Channels TV.

Obi’s legal team, led by Dele Farotimi, secured Quadri’s release after public outcry and pro bono representation, with bail set at ₦100,000 in September 2024, per Vanguard. “This is justice for the common man,” Obi said, visiting Quadri’s family in Alimosho. 

The case, linked to 2023 election tensions, saw 15 similar arrests, with 10 still pending, per Amnesty International. Quadri, now enrolled in a vocational program, thanked supporters, as Lagos police vowed to review convoy protocols, affecting 500 daily patrols