Gani Fawehinmi

Gani Fawehinmi was born into a prominent Muslim family in Ondo, Nigeria. He had his early education at Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School and Victory College Ikare, where he developed a passion for national, legal and political affairs. He worked as a law clerk in Lagos before enrolling at the Holborn College of Law in London in 1961. He faced financial difficulties and had to do various menial jobs to complete his degree. He returned to Nigeria in 1964 and was called to the bar the following year. He then worked briefly at his brother's law firm before establishing his own practice. Fawehinmi gained prominence when he took on the case of a factory worker who sued a government official for adultery in 1971. He defended the worker pro bono and exposed the corruption and injustice of the regime. He became known as a fearless and outspoken advocate for the oppressed and marginalized, taking on many human rights and civil liberties cases against the military and civilian governments. He also published books and newspapers that criticized the government and exposed their misdeeds. Fawehinmi was arrested, detained, harassed, beaten and tortured several times for his activism. He was also banned from traveling abroad, had his passport seized, his books confiscated, his house ransacked and his law office vandalized. He faced numerous charges and lawsuits, some of which he took to the Supreme Court. He was also disbarred from practicing law for a period of time. Despite these challenges, he never gave up his fight for justice and democracy. Fawehinmi was involved in the struggle for the restoration of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which was annulled by the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. He supported the winner of the election, Chief Moshood Abiola, who was later detained and died in custody. He also opposed the dictatorship of General Sani Abacha, who seized power in 1993 and ruled until his death in 1998. Fawehinmi joined forces with other pro-democracy activists, such as Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, to form the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which campaigned for the end of military rule and the return of civilian government. Fawehinmi also participated in politics, running for president in 2003 and 2007 under the banner of the National Conscience Party (NCP), which he founded in 1994. He advocated for a socialist and egalitarian society, where the welfare of the masses would be prioritized. He also supported the anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he endorsed in 2003 and 2007. Fawehinmi was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2008 and underwent treatment in Nigeria and abroad. He died on September 5, 2009, at the age of 71. He was buried in Ikeja, Lagos, with a state funeral. He was survived by his wife, Ganiat, and seven children. He was widely mourned and celebrated as a hero and a legend of the Nigerian people. Fawehinmi was a prolific writer, publisher, philanthropist, and social critic. He authored over 20 books and established the Gani Fawehinmi Library and Gallery in Lagos, which houses his collection of books, newspapers, magazines, and artworks. He also founded the Gani Fawehinmi Scholarship Board, which awards scholarships to indigent students. He received many awards and honors, both locally and internationally, for his contributions to law, human rights, and democracy. He was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2001 and the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) in 2008, the highest national honors in Nigeria. He also received honorary doctorate degrees from several universities and was recognized by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience.