Chief Gani Fawehinmi
One of the Nigeria foremost human rights lawyer and social crusaders Chief Gani Fawehinmi has passed away. He was famous for many celebrated human rights cases in Nigeria, these cases has won him honor in and around the world.
Gani was famous for fighting military government and corrupt politicians in Nigeria. he joined politics in 2003 when he founded National Conscience Part (NCP).
Chief Fawehinmi was born in April 1938, was called to the Nigerian Bar on the 15th of January, 1965 , 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.
On the 8th of December 1958, he was given a letter to his late father by the principal of the college, Rev. Akinrele. In it, the principal advised that Gani must be encouraged to study Law as a profession.
While in college, he has passionate interest in national, legal and political affairs earned him the name the “Nation”
On the 29th of April, 1961, he left the shores of Nigeria by Sea with M. V. Aureol Passenger Ship for the United Kingdom. He arrived Liverpool on the 12th of May, 1961. He traveled by train to London arriving Victoria Station in the evening of that
day.
Gani the ‘Toilet Cleaner” On arrival in England, Gani received the result of his General Certificate of Education (G.C.E) Advanced Level which he took shortly before he left Nigeria.
He then enrolled in the Holborn College of Law for the LLB degree of the University of London (External) in September 1961. He was in part II of the three year degree program when his father died on February 5, 1963 and the source of his finance dried up.
All efforts to secure financial help failed. He was forced by financial circumstance to drop out of the Holborn College as a full time student.
He then took a full time job as a Toilet Cleaner in Russell Square Hotel in Southampton Row, London. He did other cleaning jobs which included working as a sweeper in the old Gatwick Airport between February 1963 and August 1964.
He literally taught himself Law for parts II and III of the LLB degree course and sat for and passed all his examinations. He came back to Nigeria in early September 1964. On his arrival in Lagos, he enrolled in the Nigerian Law School at No. 213A, Igboser Road, Lagos for the compulsory three months course which he successfully
completed.
Gani is married to Mrs. Ganiat Ibukun Fawehinmi, nee Orebela a native of Ago-Iwoye in Ijebu, in Ogun State. She has eight (8) children for him. Gani has another wife, Mrs. Abike Fawehinmi, nee Ikuomuyilo, from Ondo. She has six (6) children for him.
In a statement President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua said he received with sadness and a deep feeling of great national loss, news of the passing away of the eminent lawyer and renowned crusader for social justice in Nigeria, Chief Gani Fawehinmi.
The state reads ‘‘President Yar’Adua joins other Nigerians in praying that Almighty Allah will reward Chief Fawehinmi’s earthly labours with eternal rest in Paradise”.
