The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Owohunwa Moshood Jimoh, has defended the police’s handling of the case involving teenage robbery suspect Quadri Alabi, amid growing public criticism and legal controversy over the suspect’s age.
In a televised interview, CP Jimoh stated that the police acted based on a written statement by Alabi, in which he claimed to be 18-year-old at the time of his arrest.
“The boy himself stated that he is 18 years old, and it was recorded. That was what we worked with,” Jimoh said, adding that Alabi was not under duress when making the statement.
The case has sparked public backlash after Alabi’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, presented a birth certificate in court showing Alabi was born in September 2007—making him 17 and a minor under Nigerian law. In response, Jimoh said, “The birth certificate being paraded by the lawyer should be subjected to investigation.”
Addressing concerns over Alabi’s prolonged detention, which allegedly exceeded the 24 to 48-hour constitutional limit, Jimoh maintained that due process was followed.
“The register I checked showed he was brought in a day before being taken to court,” he said, refuting claims that the suspect was detained for seven days.
On accusations that the police misrepresented Alabi’s age, Jimoh stated that no formal complaint had been filed with the police to challenge the age initially provided.
“Nobody petitioned us that this boy is underage until the matter got to court,” he said.
Jimoh acknowledged that verifying age through national records like NIN could have been considered, but emphasized that the police acted on the information available at the time.
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“We acted based on what was before us. If new documents emerge, we will re-examine the case,” he said.
He also dismissed earlier reports that Alabi was handed over by civilians, clarifying that officers arrested him following a report of public disturbance.
In light of the conflicting reports, the CP said an internal review had been launched.
“I’ve directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigation to investigate the matter thoroughly,” Jimoh disclosed.
Reacting to claims that the case was politically motivated due to Quadri’s alleged support for a former presidential candidate, Jimoh said, “We should not politicize crime. We are professionals and we will do our job, regardless of political affiliations.”
When asked whether the police would apologise if the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) advises that Alabi has no case to answer, Jimoh declined to commit, stating that the police had yet to receive any official directive to discontinue prosecution.