GANI FAWENHINMI

With his boundless energy, Fawehinmi, lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, 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. he was an aggressive, outspoken advocate for human rights and the rule of law. 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.