Gani Fawehinmi
He held the
Early life
Born into the family of Saheed and Munirat Fawehinmi of
Gani's grandfather was the late Chief Lisa Alujanu Fawehinmi of Ondo, who engaged in several successful battles for and on behalf of the Ondo people in the nineteenth century. Hence, the appellation the 'Alujanun', which means spirit. He died at the age of 92.[4]
Education
Gani had his early education at Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School, Iyemaja – Ondo state from 1947 to 1953 and his secondary school education at Victory College Ikare, a Christian School from 1954 to 1958, under the leadership of the Late Rev. Akinrele where he sat for and passed his West African School Certificate Examination in 1958. While in college, he was popularly known as "Nation"[5] because of his passionate interest in national, legal and political affairs. He was an avid reader of Daily Times and West African Pilot, the most popular newspapers in Nigeria at that time. He then worked briefly as a law clerk in the High Court of Lagos until 1961. Gani enrolled at the Holborn College of Law- University of London to read law in 1961. While at University, his father died. He completed his academic degree in London with a measure of difficulty due to lack of funds. This involved doing various menial jobs in London, while in London, he was acquainted with books of revolutionary or radical figures such as Fidel Castro, Winston Churchill, David Ben-Gurion, Mahatma Gandhi, Mao Tse Tsung and Karl Marx. He returned to Nigeria in 1964 and was called to the bar the following year. He then worked briefly at the law firm of his brother, the late Hon. Justice Rasheed Olabamidele Fawehinmi before branching out on his own.[2]
Law career
Fawehinmi gained prominence when he took on the case of a factory worker, Bala Abashe who alleged that the Secretary to the government of Benue-Plateau State, Andrew Obeya had an affair with his wife. Abashe then sued Obeya for assault and damages for adultery.[6] Fawehinmi took on the case as a pro bono lawyer for Abashe while the state government stood behind their official. Efforts were made for Fawehinmi to drop the case, when that failed, Obeya was forced to resign. However, Fawehinmi was detained for nine months. The publicity of the case improved the exposure of his law practice. [7]
From 1971 to 1973, he was the national publicity secretary of the
In 1994 he and some other notable Nigerians formed the National Conscience Party of Nigeria which exists till today and he stood for a presidential election in 2003 under the umbrella of the National Conscience Party.
Gani Fawehinmi was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the highest legal title in Nigeria, in September 2001.
Dele Giwa
In 1986, while Chief Gani Fawehinmi was Dele Giwa's Lawyer, the latter was killed in a bomb blast under suspicious circumstances.
As a result of his activities chief Gani Fawehinmi had been arrested, detained and charged to court several times. His international passport was seized on many occasions and his residence and Chambers were searched several times.
In the process of his crusades for the rule of law, the hopes and aspirations of the poor and the oppressed, he fought many battles against military dictatorship as a result of which he had been arrested several times by the military governments and their numerous security agents. He was dumped in many police cells and detained in several prisons between 1969 and 1996.[11]
His supporters have called him "the scourge of sphygmomanometer with which the blood pressure of dictators is gauged, the veritable conscience of the nation and the champion of the interests and causes of the masses". Many Nigerians also took to calling him the people's president.[12]
Gani Fawehinmi Library
Gani Fawehinmi library was established in 1965 at no.116, Denton street, Ebute Meta, Lagos when the founder established his chamber. the library was moved to No. 28 Sabiu Ajose Crescent, Surulere, Lagos. In 1978, the library moved from Surulere to No 35 Adeniran Ajao Road, Ajao Estate, Anthony Village, Lagos and between 2009 and 2012, the Library moved to its present and permanent site at Gani Fawehinmi Library and Gallery at Otunba Jobi-Fele Way Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos-Nigeria.[2]
Gani Fawehinmi library is recorded to be the largest library in Nigeria. It housed over one million collections on books and non books materials on various subject ranging from law, politics, biographies, religion, and social sciences, and almanacs and encyclopedias. It also has an archive with collection of newspaper and magazines from the early 1970s to date. these are some of the newspaper that cannot be found in any other library in Nigeria.[13]
The library has over 400 bibliographic materials on the founder and also contain gallery of chief Gani Fawehinmi.
Awards
On 11 June 1993 Fawehinmi was awarded the biennial
In 2018, Chief Fawehinmi was posthumously awarded the Order of the Niger, Nigeria's second highest honour.[16]
Death
Fawehinmi died in the early hours of 5 September 2009 after a prolonged battle with lung cancer. He was 71 years old. He was buried on 15 September 2009 in his home town of
Rejection of national award
In 2008 Fawehinmi rejected one of the highest national honours that can be bestowed on a citizen by the
Gani Fawehinmi park
-
A cross view of Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, Lagos-Nigeria
-
A road view of Gani Fawehinmi Park, Lagos-Nigeria
In 2010, a park in Ojota, Lagos-Nigeria was named after him by the Lagos state government.
Hospital
- Gani Fawehinmi Health Diagnostic Center Ondo City.[19]
References
- ^ "Gani Fawehinmi | Nigerian lawyer". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Gani Fawehinmi – DAWN Commission". Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ https://www.pressreader.com/nigeria/the-punch/20190825/282346861468889. Retrieved 28 January 2021 – via PressReader.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ a b "Biography: Gani Fawehinmi". Kbase. 1 December 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "Gani Fawehinmi | Human rights campaigner | Obituary". the Guardian. 8 September 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
- ^ "The Legacy Of Gani Fawehinmi". Sahara Reporters. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "Justice and the Rule of Law in Action". Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
- ^ Agbamuche-Mbu, May. "Legal Practitioners Act and the Disciplining of Lawyers". Thisday. Archived from the original on 30 July 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
- ^ "Gani Fawehinmi: Lawyer and activist who fought for human rights in". The Independent. 8 September 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ https://www.pressreader.com/nigeria/thisday-style/20170226/281908772920780. Retrieved 28 January 2021 – via PressReader.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ admin (16 September 2016). "Fawehinmi: The People's Advocate, Seven Years After". THISDAYLIVE. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Gani Fawehinmi Library And Gallery - Nigerias Information Portal, Nigeria Business Directory". businesses.connectnigeria.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "Gani Fawehinmi: Lawyer and activist who fought for human rights in". The Independent. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Nigerian Civil Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana Wins Prestigious IBA's Bernard Simons Memorial Award 2008 | Sahara Reporters". saharareporters.com. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
- ^ admin (8 June 2018). "Abiola, Fawehinmi Families Accept National Honour, Thank Buhari". THISDAYLIVE. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Elombah News - Nigeria's trusted Online Newspaper".
- ^ "2008 « My Pen and My Paper". Archived from the original on 8 September 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
- ^ "Ondo immortalises Gani, inaugurates diagnostic centre". Vanguard News. 21 April 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
External links
- Gani Fawehinmi – Daily Telegraph obituary
- Gani Fawehinmi at 234Next
- The Independent UK Article
- Gani Fawehinmi Obituary