The Unforgettable Hero, Gani Fawehinmi

His name evokes grandeur in the legal profession; that was why every Law School graduate wanted to be associated with him and his chamber. Today, many years after his death, his exploits still speak volumes. It is for this that he remains an unforgettable hero; SUNNY IDACHABA writes.

In the legal profession in Nigeria, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi was a foremost, notable legal icon before he passed on in 2009.

A lawyer and human rights activist known for his unwavering commitment to justice, democracy, human rights and the Rule of Law, he was a renowned advocate for the masses on legal matters while alive.

Chief Gani was a vocal critic of human rights abuses, particularly during the military rule when he fought tirelessly for the rights of the oppressed even at his own personal risk. As a skilled lawyer who used his expertise to challenge unjust laws and legal reforms, he was known for his fearless and brilliant courtroom performances.

Aside from these, he was an anti-corruption crusader and a leading voice in the fight against corruption by exposing corrupt practices in high places and demanded accountability from those in power.

In his active days while alive, he participated in several pro-democracy movements alongside other notable human rights activists.

One major remarkable fact about him was his selfless service to humanity as among his professional colleagues, he was a leading legal guru who often took up cases on pro bono basis, just to defend the rights of the poor, oppressed and marginalised.

Therefore, as a result of his bold and courageous fight against unjust policies, he was at various times in conflict with those in power often leading to imprisonment and harassment, but in the face of all those, he remained resolute in his pursuit of justice and human rights.

Because of his deft opposition to the government, he was locked up 32 times in police and security cells and detained in eight prisons by various military governments from 1969 to 1996.

Also, during those times, his international passport was seized more than 10 times at various periods by security agents of successive governments between 1969 and 1995. His chambers and residence were illegally searched no less than 16 times by security agents from 1969 to 1998.

For Gani, the practice of law was an indispensable part of his life; therefore, having taken a cursory look at the state of law reporting in Nigeria, he decided to break the monopoly of a few legal practitioners who had exclusive access to current judgements of the appellate courts and in the process take unfair advantage over their other professional colleagues in the court.

This realisation gave birth to his publication of Nigerian Weekly Law Reports on October, 1 1985, thereby trail-blazing modern law reporting in Nigeria and indeed the longest in Africa till he died.

With his regular publication of law reports, Gani ended the esoteric circulation of cyclostyled copies of the judgments of appellate courts which made it easier for privileged lawyers to win cases against junior lawyers.

The impact of this legal icon loomed like a colossus on the profession such that if anyone mentions law practice in Nigeria, Gani readily comes to mind. His chamber was a training ground for many fierce lawyers today who probably took the trait from him. His impact on other issues of human endeavour and on people who had the fortune to meet him was equally large as a human rights crusader, philanthropist, defender of the oppressed, friend of the poor, disabled, and physically-challenged, an ally of students, labour unions, the press and press freedom generally.

He was involved in scholarship schemes as well as his crusade for free education was embodied in his yearly scholarship awards right from 1971 till he died. It is therefore on record that Gani awarded scholarships annually to indigent students from every part of the country to enable them pursue their university or other higher education dreams. This is besides the Alhaja Munirat Fawehinmi Scholarship Awards he instituted in 2003. In all of these, he ensured that those yearly scholarship schemes survive him as he inscribed it clearly in his Will.

His numerous contributions to the legal profession and upliftment of humanity and the society generally did not go unnoticed as he was bestowed with numerous awards, recognitions and laurels. As at the time of his death, he was a recipient of 11 international awards, 88 national awards, 13 ‘Man of the Year’ awards, one ‘Man of the Century’ award, one ‘Controversial Lawyer of the Millennium’ award, ‘Senior Advocate of Nigeria’ (SAN), Doctor of Laws award (LL.D), Doctor of Letters Award (D.Litt.) and Thisday ‘Life Achievement.’

Writing about Chief Fawehinmi, one of his admirers, Modupe Apoola, said he was a renowned human rights activist.

She wrote, “With his group, The National Conscience formed in 1994, Gani Fawehinmi fought the cause of democracy following Nigeria’s June 12 1993 debacle. He also collaborated with NADECO two years later in organising rallies where he famously dared policemen.

“Fawehinmi’s struggle in 1998 was of total revolution and not just a transition and he demanded MKO Abiola, winner of the 1993 presidential election to form a government. None of these wishes came true. In his career which started in 1965, Fawehinmi instituted over 5,000 suits at the Supreme, Appeal, High and Magistrate courts. For his advocacies, he was arrested 36 or more times before he died in 2009.”

Modupe said further that while in secondary school, Gani was called ‘Nation’, a nickname he got on account of his interest in legal and political affairs. Modupe also disclosed that Gani was an avid reader of Daily Times Newspaper and West African Pilot, the two most popular newspapers within that era.

“In December 1958, the principal of his school gave him a letter to his father, advising that Gani should be encouraged to study Law. Following this, on 29 April 1961, he sailed to England and enrolled at Holborn College of Law as a part-time student. His hope of becoming a lawyer was however threatened with the loss of his father who was fully responsible for his education and welfare, but he sailed through at the end. After obtaining a degree in Law, he returned home and was called to the Nigerian Bar in January 1965.

“When MKO Abiola died in detention, Fawehinmi filed a suit at the Federal High Court Ikeja, praying that former Police Commissioner Abubakar Tsav be compelled to explain the deaths of Abiola, his wife Kudirat and that of nationalist, Pa Alfred Rewane.”

Following Gani’s death, many Nigerians, including destitute and beggars visited his residence to pay their last respect because while alive, his house was like a refugee camp for them.

Among the mourners were 21 blind beggars who came from Ebute Meta, Oyingbo in Lagos Mainland local government area of Lagos to pay their last respect to a man who championed their cause while he was alive.

Zakare Hassan, who spoke on behalf of other beggars, decided to come and condole with the family because, he said Gani was a man that showed them love when he was alive.

Prominent among those that visited his family were Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) president; Marvel Akpoyibo, Lagos state Police Commissioner; Professor Bolaji Akinyemi; Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Bayo Onanuga; Frank Ovie Kokori; Odia Ofeimun; Jimi Agbaje; Niyi Raheem; Muiz Banire; Mrs. Dupe Adelaja; Justice Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole; Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and Chief Victor Umeh of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Speaking about his demise, Gen. Adebayo said he would be missed for his honest criticisms and most of the things he said about the country that were yet to materialise.

According to Adebayo, those that hated him while he was alive because of his criticism have started appreciating him and that what he said about the country was the honest truth. He prayed that most of the things Gani criticised the government for would be implemented.

Professor Akinyemi wrote in the condolence register that, “An elephant has fallen; the voice of the voiceless is asleep. Conscience of the nation is dead, a true patriot.”

Chief Gani, who never smoked all his life, died on Sunday, September 5, 2009, of lung cancer. The disease was probably attributable to the long years he suffered in several debilitating detention facilities across many Correctional Centres in the country.