GANI FAWEHINMI: AN EPITOME OF RESILIENCE AND A SYMBOL OF HOPE
By Oaikhena Osagie

Dear Learned Colleagues,
Today, our nation marks the memorial of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN. I must begin by commending the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for its steadfast commitment to honouring this legal sage through its annual lectures.

Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s contributions to Nigeria’s legal and human rights jurisprudence are immeasurable. He stood like a colossus against military dictatorships and, though physically bruised, frequently arrested, and often intimidated, he remained unbowed and relentless in his pursuit of justice.

The life and times of this sage should be viewed through a lens wider than his legal brilliance alone. While his numerous courtroom victories fundamentally shaped our constitutional law, Gani was, at his core, a true Field Marshal of Justice—a man whose courage extended far beyond legal argument.

He possessed a rare and incorruptible spirit. Like the biblical Daniel, he refused to be seduced by the “King’s table,” choosing integrity over state patronage. He embodied the Mosaic character, tirelessly demanding, “Let my people go.” As a devout Muslim, his spirituality deeply informed and energized his pursuit of equity and fairness for all.

In today’s Nigeria, although human rights remain contested, they enjoy a level of recognition that was largely nonexistent during the military era. In those dark times, when those in power displayed open contempt for the rule of law, Gani—an unarmed civilian—dared to challenge the narrative and confront oppression head-on.

As we celebrate his enduring legacy, we must also look inward. We must reflect on our own legal practices, the injustices we have ignored, and the harassments we have witnessed in silence.
Today, we must ask ourselves the ultimate and most uncomfortable question:
“Is there a Gani in me?”