September 25 2009
By Chidi
Nwachukwu.
It
may take a century to have another Fawehinmi
in our midst. An eager evangelist of ‘’what the law says’’. He spoke
with so much passion against
oppression ,He did not only speak
in his chambers nor from the comfort of
his home . Fawehinmi spoke to the
Authority no matter how dangerous whether
civilian or military with its attendant
consequencies. Gani was not just a lawyer but an intellectual of note. If you don’t
know who an intellectual is nor what his
roles are, then look out for Chief Gani Fawehinmi. His life an times was a
library of struggle ,crusading and emancipation.
He expanded our political space which
will remain a great legacy in Nigeria.
Gani
was law personified, and for many of us who became lawyers did so because of
him.He was on top of the list of those that
made the profession what it is in Nigeria today; well respected and
distinguished. Through Gani the profession moved from not just being a noble
profession but one that when its members speak, the world listens. As a student
in the faculty of law University of Lagos , I was well influenced by the Gani
spirit, the reason why I resuscitated the Committee for the Defence of Human
Rights CDHR in the University. l was not alone,as I could still recall that Gani Fawehinmi Chambers in the faculty
was driven by young men and women who emulated the activist nature of the man. They
spoke and behaved like him. Most new wigs or those on attachment would often
prefer Gani Fawehinmi Chambers, just to
catch the Gani spirit.
Gani
was one man that made maximum use of the
law to advance the cause of humanity. Always ready to go to court for any
injustice either to himself, or to society especially the indigent or not so
indigent but un-informed. He spoke and drank law, He worked and traded with it. He placed both moral and legal burden on the courts. He
demystified governance and government
people by dragging them through the courts when necessary. Government officials used to build Chinese walls around
themselves, but it took a Gani to bring down those walls ,and made some of them pay.
Gani
was a great disciplinarian and philanthropist. An active practitioner who made
wealth and fame predominantly through law practice and publishing. Couple of
times I had used his chamber’s library to do research work at those moments I needed
to deliver papers not just on law related subjects, but other areas of human
development. His librarians would serve you with such dedication as if you were
expected to pay for the services, yet it was all free of charge. A look at his
chambers would reveal years of hard-work
and enormous investment in human development
with sizeable amount of staff in his payroll .The Legal community will
miss Gani for his diamond cut approach to the law, but the oppressed masses of
this country will miss him more. Adieu!
great patriot.
Nwachukwu, a Legal Practitioner, is the
publisher of Great Society Monthly.
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