Gani Fawehinmi (1938- 2009)
Chief Abdul-Ganiyu “Gani” Oyesola Fawehinmi was a Nigerian Author, Publisher,
Philanthropist, Social Critic, Human Civil Rights Lawyer, Politician and
Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Gani was born on April 22 1938 in Ondo to Chief Saheed Tugbobo Fawehinmi, the
Seriki Musulumi of Ondo and a successful timber trader, philanthropist, civic
activist and Muslim chieftain of the Yoruba people who was believed to have
brought Islam to Ondo town.
His grandfather was Late Chief Lisa Alujanu Fawehinmi of Ondo, who engaged in
several battles for and on behalf of the Ondo people in the nineteenth
century.
The distinguished lawyer, acclaimed author, publisher and philanthropist was
reported to practiced law since 1969, handling about 5,700 mostly
high-profile-cases in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Courts and
Magistrate Courts in Nigeria until 2002 when stopped appearing in court. About
1500 of those cases were pro bono cases which he handled for anyone who came
to him without the means to afford proper legal representation.
He was apprehended and detained by different Nigerian military governments on
more than 35 occasions since 1969 across 12 jails and various detention
centers all over Nigeria including the notorious Gashua prison. He was also
physically assaulted by security agents and his house and offices had been
subjected to searches at least 16 times.
There were also several attempts on his life and an arson attempt on his
office which was only thwarted by vigilant neighbors.
Gani attended Primary School at Ansar-ud-Deen Primary School, Iyemaja, Ondo
from 1947 to 1953. He attended his Secondary School Education at the Victory
College Ikare from 1954 to 1958 under the leadership of Rev. Akinrele.
Reports say on the 8th of December 1958 he was given a letter by his principal
for his father, advising Gani to study law.
He later traveled to England and enrolled in the Holborn College of Law for
LLB degree of the University of London (External) in September 1961. While in
Holborn College Gani’s father died and this set him back financially.
He took up the job of a toilet cleaner in Russel Square Hotel in Southampton
Row, London; he also took some cleaning jobs in the Old Gatwick Airport
between February 1963 and August 1964 to help him continue his studies.
He read by himself for the Parts 2 and 3 of the LLB degree course and sat for
and passed all his examinations.
Gani returned to Nigeria in early 1964 and enrolled in the Nigerian Law School
in Lagos.
He was called to Nigerian Bar on the 15th of January 1965.
He began his law career in the law office of his elder brother, Rasheed
Fawehinmi and since then used his legal skill to defend the poor and oppressed
in Nigeria.
On June 11 1993 he was awarded the biennial Bruno Kreisky prize awarded to
international figures who advanced human rights causes.
In 1998 he received the International Bar Association’s Bernard Award in
recognition of his human rights and pro-democracy work.
He was made a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in September 2001.
In 2003 he founded the National Conscience Party (NCP)
He died of lungs cancer at the age of 71. He died a disappointed man, because
of the state of his country at the time of his death, he refused the highest
honor accorded him by his country on his death bed- Order of the Federal
Republic (OFR)
He was married to Ganiat Ibukun Fawehinmi, an Ago-Iwoye native and Abike
Fawehinmi from Ondo. He has 15 children.
Notable Quotes
“I’m not surprised at this result, I’m saddened, not surprised. This
government will do anything to keep it’s power by deceiving the people.”
“The disappearance of Charles Taylor from Nigeria soil is a humiliating
disgrace to Nigeria. Obasanjo must explain why this happened”
“Since I started to practice law 43 years ago I think I have trained more than
230 lawyers some of them are judges and Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN)
“I cannot accept the honor of OFR, whether now or in the life beyond. How can
I wake up in the morning and look at the insignia of honor bestowed on me
under a government that persecutes anti-corruption efforts, particularly those
of Nuhu Ribadu"
References
Information Nigeria
Online Nigeria
The Lawyers Chronicle
Wikipedia
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