The Nigerian Lawyer Abdul-Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi was an author, publisher, social critic, philanthropist, politician, human and civil right lawyer, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Background
Ethnicity:
Both parents are of Nigerian heritage in the South-West region
Abdul-Ganiyu Fawehinmi, fondly called Gani, was born on 22 April 1938 into the family of Chief Saheed and Munirat Fawehinmi of Ondo, in Ondo State, Nigeria. Gani's father, Chief Saheed Tugbobo Fawehinmi, the Seriki Musulumi (Head of Muslims) of Ondo, was a successful timber trader, civic activist and philanthropist. He was reported to be a follower of Ajao, who brought Islam to Ondo Town, South Western Nigeria. Gani lost his father on 5 February 1963 at the age of 89.
His grandfather was the late Chief Lisa Alujanu Fawehinmi of Ondo, who involved in several battles for and on behalf of the Ondo people in the nineteenth century. Due to his successful battles, he was given the name 'Alujanu', which connotes spirit. He died at the age of 92.
Education
gani began his primary education at Ansarudeen Primary School, Iyemaya-Ondo from 1947 to 1953, and went further for his secondary education at Victory College Ikare, from 1954 to 1958. He sat for and passed his West African School Certificate Examination in 1958 and gained admission into college. While in college, he was fondly called "Nation" due to his passionate interest in national, political and legal affairs. He 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. He lost his father while at the university, which really affected him financially. He had to do various menial jobs in the city of London so as to cope with his studies. While in London, he got acquainted with books of radical figures or revolutionaries such as Winston Churchill, Fidel Castro, Ghandi, David Ben-Gurion, Karl Marx and Mao Tse Tsung. In 1964, he returned to Nigeria.
After completing his studies in London, Gani returned to Nigeria in 1964 and was called to bar the following year. Thereafter, he worked briefly at his brother's law firm, Saheed Fawehinmi before branching out on his own.
Gani gained prominence when he took on the case of a factory worker, Bala Abashe when the latter alleged that the secretary to the government of Benue-Plateau State, Andrew Obeya had an affair with his wife. The publicity of the case improved the exposure Fawehinmi law practice even though he was detained for a period of nine months.
Gani was the national publicity secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association from 1971 to 1973. However, in 1981, Fawehinmi was queried by a disciplinary committee and told to explain himself within two weeks why he was touting himself through advertisements in a weeklt publication contrary to the ethics of the bar. In the case, Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) v. Chief Gani Fawehinmi (1985) the Supreme Court upheld the Appeal Court judgement rendering the LPDC’s proceedings against Chief Fawehinmi ineffective on the basis that the constitution of the LPDC with the Attorney-General as Chairman made him accuser, prosecutor and judge at the same time which breached the principles of natural justice and therefore Chief Fawehinmi’s right to fair hearing. The judgement led to an amendment of the Legal Practitioners’ Act 1975. Fawehinmi later ran afoul of an NBA directive. In 1984, when the new Buhari administration enacted the Recovery of Pulic Property decree, the NBA under the presidency of Bola Ajibola directed its members not to represent any of client in a military tribunal. Fawehinmi flouted the directive because he believed the accused should be made to disgorge any money stolen as a result his name was placed in NBA's dishonour roll.
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. He was beaten up time after time and was deported from one part of the country to another to prevent him from being able to effectively reach out to the masses among whom he was popular. His books were confiscated by the Federal Military Government and his library at Surulere, a suburb of Lagos, were set ablaze. His law Chambers at Anthony Village, Lagos State, were invaded by persons suspected to be agents of the government. The guards were shot, two of them seriously wounded.
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.
His supporters have called him "the scourge of irresponsible governments, a 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
The Struggle for Genuine Democracy in Nigeria - State of the Nation (After Ninety Days of Civil Rule) and the Dangers Ahead
1999
The Struggle for Genuine Democracy in Nigeria - Thirty Days of Civil Rule in Nigeria (Post-May 29, 1999) What Hope for Democracy?
1999
Religion
He was a true believer in Islamic Monotheism.
Politics
His political views were clearly seen in his works. He fought for the poor and oppressed against oppression from the government. He believed in equal right and justice
Views
Quotations:
“In a period of six years, you have virtually traversed the entire world visiting most of the countries of the world. One would have expected that not less than sixty (60) Heads of State and their wives would either have graced the occasion of the burial of your wife or sent their wives to represent them at such burial...despite several times that you slept out of Nigeria visiting foreign countries in Europe, Asia and America..Mr. President, is that not a hard lesson? Even for a Chairman of the Commonwealth and Chairman of African Union (AU), is the lesson not obvious? You must now realise that it is what you do at home to promote the welfare of your people that sells your image abroad... In spite of all I have written above, I sincerely sympathise with you on the death of a woman who became a human rights activist of note, fighting tooth and nail for your release from incarceration.”
“The world's attention was misdirected to Kishi by the incompetent compass of your regime. On television, it was Kishi. On radio, it was Kishi. Even the almighty CNN echoed government's misdirection and it was Kishi. When finally the African Independent Television (AIT) located the site at your backyard in Ogun State at Lisa in Ifo and broadcast the new site, instead of an accolade to AIT, your government shut it down for telling the truth, only to be reopened the second day without an apology".
“There can be no justice for Dele Giwa and the Nigerian society for his assassination on Sunday, 19th October, 1986 until the investigation into his murder is re-opened, and those responsible are brought to book. It is only then that the Rule of Law will find its fulfillment.”
“The latest increase in petroleum products prices in Nigeria is the most ungodly and criminally insulting act of the Federal Government against the Nigerian people. And there is need for a response. Nigerians must revolt against it.”
Personality
With his boundless energy he tenaciously and uncompromisingly pursued and crusaded his beliefs, principles and ideals for the untrammelled rule of law, undiluted democracy, all embracing and expansive social justice, protection of fundamental human rights and respect for the hopes and aspirations of the masses who are victims of misgovernment of the affairs of the Nation
Physical Characteristics:
He was of the black race
Quotes from others about the person
James Brooke: “Fawehinmi is taking a different strategy to hasten the return of democracy to Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation. This year, he has emerged as a one-man movement battling Nigeria’s Military Government for more civil freedoms now.”
Stephen Buckley: "Brash and Passionate, Fawehinmi, 57, has been arrested so many times for opposing military regimes that he keeps a bag packed in case he is unexpectedly hauled off to jail. Last year, being the only one who dares defies, he defied Abacha by forming the National Conscience Party, which has been harassed regularly when it holds public rallies -illegal during Abacha's reign. Last month, after Fawehinmi flew into a southern city for a party rally, state security forces refused to let him attend. They tossed him back into the plane. Yet, at some meetings or rallies, security forces applaud his speeches. He remains the only Nigerian who can not be intimidated."
Dr. Walter Carrington: “I have been inspired by Gani. So, it is a great honour for me to be in this place. I would say this is the ‘Shrine of Democracy and the Rule of Law’. And Gani has done so much to inspire not only people of this country but people around the world. If there were a Nobel Prize for Human Rights, it would have been given to Gani. Not so many people are known by one name. (But) just say ‘Gani’ and everyone knows to whom you are referring.
Gani is the kind of man I had always wanted to be from childhood - somebody who would not be afraid to put his life on the line. That great courage inspired me.”
Joseph Contrears: “Gani Fawehinmi is Nigeria’s best-known human-rights attorney. He is also a leader of the pro-democracy movement that is currently protesting the de facto state of emergency imposed by the military regime of Gen. Sani Abacha.”