The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Moshood, has stated that the statement provided by Quadri Alabi indicates he is 18 years old, and not 17 as was widely believed.
He stressed that a parent is the best person to validate someone’s age and not birth certificate, emphasizing that no one is above the law, regardless of their age.
Moshood made these comments during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
This statement comes after Alabi’s release from Kirikiri Prison by the Apapa Magistrate Court, Court 9, sitting at Orege, Ajegunle (Sikiru Adagun Courthouse), following his acquittal of charges related to conspiracy and armed robbery.
Alabi, who gained national attention during the 2023 general elections when he famously stood in front of Peter Obi’s campaign convoy, was cleared by the court, which ruled that he had no case to answer. This marked a significant legal victory for Alabi after spending several months in custody.
During the interview, CP Moshood commented, “Nothing is considered an offense unless it is clearly defined by law. And for any offense, there are procedures in place for handling offenders, whether they are minors or adults. The difference lies in how they are processed, not whether they are held accountable.”
He further noted that many young offenders involved in crimes such as robbery or cultism fall within Alabi’s age group. “The fear these so-called minors create in the community is real. But even then, we must operate strictly within the law,” he said.
According to Moshood, the police have documentation of Alabi’s statement where he declared himself to be 18 years old. “I personally checked the record at Amukoko Police Station. He wrote down his age as 18, and that’s the basis on which we proceeded with the investigation.”
Moshood added that being 18 means Alabi is no longer considered a minor under Nigerian law. “If you’re 18 or claim to be 18, you’ll be treated accordingly.”
Regarding claims that Alabi is underage, Moshood stated that the documents presented by Alabi’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, must be verified. “The best person to confirm someone’s age is their parent. A birth certificate or affidavit of age declaration must be thoroughly investigated. These days, with AI and digital tools, anything can be fabricated.”
The Commissioner also mentioned that the police are still waiting for the Department of Public Prosecution’s advice. “We don’t yet know whether he was granted bail, discharged, or acquitted. We’ll study the DPP’s advice once it’s available.”
Moshood clarified that the trial has not yet begun, stating, “We only went to court for a remand order based on the boy’s statement. The trial hasn’t started yet. Once it does, he’ll be arraigned and expected to take his plea.”
The Police Commissioner reiterated that the police acted based on the suspect’s own statement and are committed to ensuring that due process is followed under the law.
