Lawyers, Sanwo-Olu React To Mohammed Fawehinmi’s Death

Some lawyers on Thursday said that Mr Mohammed Fawehinmi will be greatly missed by the human rights community.

Mohammed, 52, a lawyer and human rights advocate died on Wednesday after complaining of breathing difficulties.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State described late Fawehinmi as a passionate human rights activist.

Sanwo-Olu, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Gboyega Akosile, on Thursday, commiserated with the family and friends of the deceased.

“It is with a deep sense of sorrow that I commiserate with the family, friends and associates of the Late Mohammed Fawehinmi. He was undoubtedly a great Nigerian, passionate human rights activist and champion of a true Nigeria.

“As a civil rights activist, he spent his life in the service of humanity and particularly for the emancipation of the Nigerian people.

“Mohammed Fawehinmi was as consistent as his father, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi. He kept the flame of his father burning by fighting for the masses even on his wheelchair”.

A constitutional lawyer and the president, Voters Awareness Initiative (VAI), Mr Wale Ogunade, described late Mohammed as the patriarch of the Fawehinmi family.

The VAI President noted that the deceased was very supportive of human rights causes.

“In spite of his status as somebody who is always on the wheelchair, he made sure that he attended every program that has to do with good governance, democracy and the rule of law particularly promoting justice for all.

“He too like his father put his life on the line during the Save Nigeria project which was a success.

“It is unfortunate that we lost him at his prime. May his revolutionary spirit rest in peace,” Ogunade said.

Also speaking, the President of the African Bar Association (AFBA), Mr Hannibal Uwaifo described Mohammed’s demise as a very said event.

The AFBA President noted that though Mohammed was not as active as his late father in human rights advocacy due to some physical constraints, the human rights community will still miss him.

“In spite of his passing, the name of the Fawehinmi family will remain in gold in the history of the legal profession in Nigeria,” Uwaifo said.

Also, Mr Ademola Adewale, a lawyer and public affairs analyst said that late Mohammed had made efforts to preserve the legacy of his father both in legal practice and the fight for equal rights.

“He will be missed by a lot of human rights bodies like the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) and the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),” Adewale said.

The Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said the death of the son of late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), left a huge void in the legal community.

Mr Bartholomew Aguegbodo, its chairman, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

The late Mohammed was a huge supporter and regular fixture at the Chief Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture organised by the NBA Ikeja Branch.

Aguegbodo said Mohammed’s death was received with a huge shock by the NBA Ikeja Branch.

“We have always related to him on his late father’s annual lecture.

“His death is not just a big loss to Ikeja Branch, it is a negative reflection of our health care. The government should look more into providing better healthcare,” he said.

He said the NBA was grieving and would reach out to the Fawehinmi family.

Mohammed graduated from the University of Lagos with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1991.

He obtained an LLB degree from the University of Buckingham, England and was called to Nigerian Bar in 1998.

Mohammed had over 20 years of experience in the practice of law.

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