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Gani Fawehinmi - Constitutional Crusader

Until the present Obasanjo government, Chief Gani Fawehinmi may well pass for the jail bird of the nation. Hardly did any government, since the early 60s, not have one reason or the other to arrest and throw Gani into prison. Oftentimes, it is because of Gani?s unwavering commitment to upholding the basic principles of human rights policies and the rule of law that he often gets the rough edge of the authorities.. He suffers no fools gladly. His pestering criticisms of successive governments have often run him on headlong clashes with various authorities.

Fearless and unsparing in his condemnations, Gani fights the perceived ills of his society with uncommon passion and zeal, with an ever-ready disposition to suffer for what he believes in. Now in his late 60s, Gani has maintained a standing history of being a leading anti-establishment man for about four decades.

He is easily a foremost pro-democracy activist and human rights crusader in Nigeria. He indeed, has remained also one of the most uncompromising of all such genres of activists as he has carefully avoided occasions, circumstances, gift offers, appointments, etc that may dirty his human rights records in the long run. He is a blind critic of the ills of the society, no matter who perpetrates such ills.

As a firm believer in the rule of Law and the use of legal instrument to fight societal ills, Gani, at almost any point in time, has dozens of cases he instituted against the ruling class, or government over one perceived ill-act or the other. Long before the government (belatedly) awarded him the prestigious title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Nigerians had long dubbed him the Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM).

Although he has spent almost his life time fighting for the interest and welfare of the masses, the said masses failed to support his political ambition when he contested the presidential election of 2003. Perhaps his straight and near rigid belief in ideals will not allow him be a good politician. But he is easily a very influential personality in the Nigerian polity and enjoys large followership especially from the student and youth folk of the nation.

This Day
2005
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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5442

Gani Fawehinmi at 70

Sun News
24th April '08

On Tuesday, April 22, 2008, the radical human rights lawyer and champion of the pro–democracy movement in Nigeria, Chief Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi, turned 70. The birthday of the legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was celebrated in Lagos with the launch of a book on his life of exemplary service to law and humanity entitled Gani Through the Law, written by a journalist, Mr. Richard Akinnola. The occasion provided an avenue for the public adulation of one of Nigeria’s most outstanding and beloved lawyers by a gathering of lawyers, human rights activists and politicians in Lagos.

Although Gani, as the popular lawyer is fondly called, was unavoidably absent at the celebration on account of a debilitating health condition that has kept him outside the country for about a year, his physical absence did not dampen the essence of the celebration of his four decades and three years of unflinching commitment to the quest for an egalitarian and democratic society, even at a great cost to his health and personal liberty.

The name, Gani Fawehinmi, in Nigeria is synonymous with humanism, legal radicalism and a passionate devotion to the public good. An accomplished author, publisher, administrator, philanthropist and human rights crusader, Gani graduated in Law as an external student of the University of London in 1964. He attended the Nigerian Law School, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1965.

From that time onwards, he has taken up the challenge of advocacy for the masses and was an arrowhead of the crusades for democracy, human rights and good governance in Nigeria, for more than 40 years. He earned the sobriquet, “conscience of the nation” for his firm belief in the rule of law and his insistence on its use for the common good.

Gani’s unbending commitment to this principle and his various litigations incurred the wrath of many Nigerian governments, leading to his arrest on 34 occasions, with 18 different spurious charges slammed against him even as he was remanded in no less than 15 prisons across the country. He instituted many high–profile cases against the injustices of some governments and is recorded to have handled more than 5000 cases in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the High Courts and Magistrate Courts across the country.

Some of these are Dele Giwa vs. Adewusi, 1982; Gani Fawehinmi vs Ibrahim Babangida and Others, 1992; Gani Fawehinmi vs Shonekan (constitutionality of the Interim National Goverrnment), 1993 and Gani Fawehinmi vs Sani Abacha, (declaration of assets by public officers), 1994. His battle to unravel the killers of the assassinated journalist, Mr. Dele Giwa, led to his imprisonment in 1990.

One thing that stood Gani out in all these cases is his consistency in the effort to make the various governments of the period accountable to the people. For this, he was denied entry to the senior bar for many years but he was happy to hold the title, “Senior Advocate of the Masses,” conferred on him by the students of then University of Ife, Ile Ife, until he was eventually appointed “Senior Advocate of Nigeria,” the highest legal title in the country, in September 2001.

For his outspokenness against human rights abuses in Nigeria, Fawehinmi has received various local and international awards, including the International Bar Association’s prestigious Bernard Simons Memorial Award for contribution to the rule of law in Nigeria, 1998.
He was a rallying point in the crusade against perpetual military rule in Nigeria and, with the advent of democracy, he formed the National Conscience Party of Nigeria (NCP) on which platform he ran for presidency in 2003.

Fawehinmi was a consummate author and publisher of books, especially on critical areas of law, the Supreme Courts of Nigeria Law Reports and other courts’ law reports. Gani’s strides in the legal profession and on the nation’s political terrain are remarkable. His was an uncommon demonstration of courage, steadfastness, selflessness and a dogged pursuit of the people’s welfare. These are exemplary qualities which endeared him to the people but stood him out as an irritant to governments and their security agencies.

Regrettably, his erstwhile illuminating interjections on political developments in the country and his readiness to take the government up on contentious issues have been sorely missed since illness took him out of circulation last year. His position as the Senior Advocate of the Masses has been noticeably vacant.

However, Gani’s outstanding achievements, his survival of the onslaught of government agents since 1969 and his unbowed spirit, are worthy of celebration, as he turns 70. We join other Nigerians to felicitate with this living human rights legend on his birthday and wish him a quick recovery and safe journey back to the country.
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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5442

Gani at 70: Celebrating a Unique Icon

Bamidele Aturu
22nd April '08

Chief Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi, friend of the toiling masses, fearless advocate, humanist par excellence, irrepressible enemy of oppressors, human rights crusader of inimitable courage, unassuming philanthropist, and an indefatigable patriot of unparalleled commitment is 70. This is really something to cheer about. To begin with, given the harassment, physical and psychological torture inflicted on him and his family by the Nigerian state, not many people thought that he would live to mark his 60th birthday not to talk of being with us at 70. Whatever the state of his health may be, this is an occasion that the masses and their friends must celebrate to high heavens.

Gani, as he is fondly called by his admirers and foes alike, is a unique Nigerian in a number of respects. Here is one Nigerian who lives his life for the good of the country only in every way. At great personal risks to himself he dared the military adventurers who usurped political power and imposed the authoritarian ethos of the garrison on our people. A consummate social critic that he is, he has never been caught pushing positions for selfish reasons or for the mere purpose of attracting attention to himself as many gallingly do these days. I have told several people before and I believe it is appropriate to repeat it during this festive occasion that Gani is the only lawyer that I know, living or dead, who does not take a position on national issues simply because he is protecting the interest of a present or prospective client.

These days one frequently read opinions that amount to hankering for briefs among lawyers or that is nothing but indecent defence of the interest of an existing client. I have had cause to disagree with this great African on some national issues, but as I told him on some of those occasions, I knew that he was merely expressing his deep and genuine convictions. Happily, those occasions were very few. I challenge anyone with a contrary opinion to express it now, I wish I could take the liberty of a priest to add the phrase, "or never".

He is not one to refrain from expressing unpopular positions. In recent times he has been challenged and even excoriated by many for some of his positions that go against the general tide of public opinion. One thing that is clear is that one cannot miss his nationalistic fervour and passion in any of his interventions and commentaries. Beyond that, a nation without an avant-garde like Gani who sets agenda and thinks ahead will soon atrophy. As a human being he does not claim to be without his own flaws. The truth, however, is that compared with many people in his generation and generations behind him, Gani is closer to a saint.

Gani is a very solicitous and caring person. Several thousands of indigent people, and I am not exaggerating, have benefited from his large heart. Personally, it was Gani that paid my law school fees, an act of benevolence for which I shall remain eternally grateful. As a law student at Ife, when the power that be had made it clear that I could not get regular employment by seizing my NYSC Discharge Certificate after my first degree, Gani placed me on a monthly stipend that did not fail once. Even while still on his sick bed in far away London Gani still looked after the welfare of several people. For example I know that he ensures that the medical bills of his sister who had taken ill before him are settled promptly.

It is not an exaggeration to state that all Nigerians, without any exception whatsoever, have benefited from his legal activism. This is so because he is the doyen of public impact litigation in this country. Regardless of the narrow conception of the doctrine of locus standi by the superior courts, Gani has used the instrumentality of the law and the court to challenge every form of misbehaviour in government. Thanks to his persistence, it would appear that the doctrine has been relaxed in the case of the dollar Ministers filed by him. There is no Nigerian, again living or dead, that has challenged governments and their policies in court on matters that are not personal than Chief Gani Fawehinmi. He has expanded our legal frontiers in such a way that every branch of the law bears his imprint.

This is not the appropriate forum to discuss his forensic skills. I have already accepted the challenge thrown at me by no less a person than Odia Ofeimun, the well-known poet, to do his biography. It suffices however to recall how he used his skills in court to get us back to school after the authorities at Ife dismissed us apparently for not learning what our parents asked to go there to learn. In the midst of his arguments, he suddenly pointed to the ceilings and told the court that "what these boys dismissed by the University are saying is that this roof should not collapse on your Lordship". The ceiling, unknown to any of us and perhaps the judge too at the time, was caving in. Everybody laughed, but he had made his point. We won our case and that is one of the reasons why I am today a lawyer. That was vintage Gani. He would use any lawful means to secure justice for the downtrodden.

His courage is scary. One incident that will forever remain etched in our collective memory was the scene at Yaba, under the military, where he lay down on the ground and dared the security personnel drafted to quell a public protest to run over him with their armoured tank. Thank God, they did not. But that underlines his willingness to pay the supreme sacrifice in the defence of the oppressed. He has been jailed more than any Nigerian, living or dead, not for stealing public funds or for any crime but for challenging infamy in government; he has been tear-gassed several times; humiliated on countless occasions and brutalised times without number. Yet he remains undaunted, unshaken and unwavering in his single-minded pursuit of the common good. I wish him more years of fruitful contributions to the progress of this country. Gani, may God multiply your kind in our midst.

Bamidele Aturu & Co
Aturulaw@yahoo.com
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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5442

Gani Fawehinmi - Human & Civil Rights Lawyer and Politician

There are no comets seen when beggars die. Even the heavens blaze forth the death of princes.” The popularly quote from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar apparently synchronised with the weather in Lagos yesterday as the heavens eventually opened up after months of lethargy to herald the final passage of another great Nigerian, Chief Abdul-Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi.

The country’s most consistent activist and masses lawyer passed on yesterday at 7am at Lister Medical Centre e a private hospital in Lagos. He was aged 71.

The radical lawyer, author, publisher, philanthropist, social critic, human and civil rights lawyer and politician had been on admission for about two weeks before he finally succumbed to death after a protracted battle with lung cancer.

Sunday Sun learnt that he returned to the country about three months ago from London where he was undergoing chemotherapy after it was diagnosed in April 2008.

“He asked to be brought back to Nigeria like the courageous man that he was. Since there was no hope that he was going to live, he decided to return to the country to spend his last moments,” a family source said.
When our reporter saw him about five weeks ago, he was looking very frail but strolling unassisted in his premises at Adebola Close, off Remi Fani-Kayode Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

The family source also informed that the remains of Gani, as he is popularly known, had been moved to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

He left burial instructions

The remains of Chief Fawehinmi will not be buried today according Islamic rites. This is because the late legal luminary left instruction that his burial be well planned and is elaborate. Mr Ayo Akele, a former Labour leader and human right activist confirmed this to our reporter at Gani’s residence.

“Don’t listen to any rumour that Chief (Fawehinmi) would be buried today (Saturday),” he said.

But when reminded that Islamic rite demands that the deceased be buried within 24hours, Akele responded that Gani left instructions that he should be given a well planned and elaborate burial.

“He left instructions before his death that his burial be well planned and elaborate. That it should include everybody irrespective of status. You know he doesn’t discriminate, he wants both the rich and the poor, dredges of the society and icons to be present. He doesn’t want his burial to be rushed. He is not the kind of person whose burial you can rush. He is an international icon and his burial arrangement cannot be limited to the confinement of (his) GRA (residence). The family and human rights community are planning his burial. We will let you know in due course but I cannot tell you anything now,” Akele said. He however pointed out that Gani’s position is irreplaceable in the human right movement in Nigeria.

Early life

He was born on April 22, 1938 into the Fawehinmi family of Ondo in Ondo State. His father, Chief Saheed Tugbobo Fawehinmi, the Seriki Musulumi of Ondo, was a successful timber magnate, a great philanthropist, an opponent of excessive taxation of the poor and a deeply religious Muslim leader. He was reported to have brought Islam to Ondo Town.

Gani had his early education at Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School, Iyemaja-Ondo 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.

Gani enrolled at the Holborn College of Law, University of London, to read Law in 1961. While at the university, his father died. He completed his degree in London with a measure of difficulty due to lack of funds. He had to do various menial jobs in London to go through school.

While in college, he was popularly known as “Nation” 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 at that time.

Awards

In 1993, Fawehinmi was awarded the biennial Bruno Kreisky Prize. This prize, named in honour of Bruno Kreisky, is awarded to international figures who advance human rights causes.
In 1998, he received the International Bar Association’s Bernard Simmons Award in recognition of his human rights and pro-democracy work.

Rejection of National Award

In 2008, he rejected the highest order that can be bestowed on a citizen by the Nigerian government - Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) - in protest of years of misrule since independence.

Opposition to military dictatorship and corruption

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 was arrested several times by the military governments and its numerous security agents. He had been dumped in many police cells and detained in several prisons between 1969 and 1996.

His passport was also seized on many occasions. His residence and Chambers were searched several times. He was beaten up many times and was ‘deported’ from one part of the country to another to prevent him from being listened to by the masses.

His books were confiscated by the military government and his library at Surulere, a suburb of Lagos, were set ablaze. Even his Chambers at Anthony Village, Lagos State, was attacked and invaded by persons suspected to be agents of the military government on August 26, 1994 and they shot his Chambers guards, in the process seriously wounding two of them.

His promotion to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was delayed as a way to victimise him. Eventually, he got the award in 2003.
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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5442

Profile of the Late Legal Luminary
http://pointblanknews.com/os2124.html

Tribute to the Life & Work of Gani Fawehinmi
http://www.triumphnewspapers.com/tri992009.html
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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5442

Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) has been active in Nigerian affairs for the past 40 years. A distinguished lawyer, acclaimed author, publisher and philanthropist, he is better known as a gadfly in conscience of many Nigerian governments military or civilian. He gained national and international recognition as a potent human rights crusader.

He has been in private legal practice since 1965 and has handled over 5,000 - mostly high-profile- cases in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Courts and Magistrates' Courts in Nigeria. Chief Fawehinmi is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who has been apprehended and interned by different Nigerian military governments on more than 35 occasions since 1969. Nevertheless, he is widely regarded by Nigerians as a topmost fighter for Social Justice for the masses.

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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm