Gani Fawehinmi's Celebrated Cases

For followers of the titanic career history of the late icon, there is no gainsaying that he symbolized the legal profession in Nigeria. Though having so many celebrated lawyers before him, he cut the image of what a “real” lawyer should be in the minds of the majority.

He approached his profession with a rare sense of commitment and passion. But beyond all other qualities, what stood him out was his determination to deploy his professional potentials to further the cause of humanity. It is little wonder that he earned the unconventional title of Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM) long before he was made Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Even among critical observers, it is unarguably difficult to situate Gani’s cases in terms of significant impact to the legal system and the cause of humanity in general. But there is no doubt that his public impact cases have significantly changed the face of human rights litigations in the country.

For many, Gani remained the most outstanding and consistent human rights activist that Nigeria has produced. Even the former Head of state, Gen Ibrahim Babaginda who obviously was the most criticized by Gani singled out the legal luminary in a media report as the most reliable human rights crusader in Nigeria.For over 40 years, he demonstrated a commitment to social crusade and a devotion to the cause of the down-trodden. He is simply a legend in Nigeria. In the annals of the nation under military governance, he stood out as one who more than any other Nigerian fought relentlessly against the institution.

Dele Giwa’s case

Beyond the public impact cases, Gani would be remembered for the protracted legal battle over the murder of the Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch, Dele Giwa who was killed with a letter bomb in 1986. The case lingered for so much that many were afraid for his safety. He was ready to sacrifice his life to ensure that the mystery that surrounded Dele Giwa’s death was unraveled.

The NBA challenge

He would also be remembered for his celebrated case with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) during the Buhari regime over the boycott of the military tribunal by the apex umbrella of the legal profession.

Gani Fawahinmi’s biggest cases.

Gani Sues Tinubu for N10m
On Tuesday March 29, 2006, Chief Gani Fawahinmi filed an exparte motion against the then Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Ikeja Division of the state High Court. He challenged the restriction of movement from March 21 to 23, 2006 over the national housing and population census. He was claiming N10m damages for what he termed infringement on his fundamental human rights to freedom of movement as enshrined in the 1999 constitution.Gani drags Obasanjo to ICPC Gani had on May 24, filed a suit at the Federal High Court to challenge the project. He had equally asked the Code of Conduct Bureau to immediately begin the prosecution of the president. He also asked the Bureau to confiscate the library and the over #6billion realized at its fund raiser on May 14. The social critic had requested that the library and the funds raised for the project be confiscated to become a national property.