ut, out brief candle, life is but a walking shadow.' The cold hands of death eventually had the last say as Gani Fawehinmi joined the immortals on September 5, 2009.

Late Chief Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi
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There is perhaps no legal mind that has used the law to achieve so much for Nigerians than Gani Fawehinmi. An irrepressible advocate of justice and egalitarian society is gone but his works live on.

Gani and I grew up in the same Oke-Osun/Okedasa/Ododibo axis of Ondo town. Although older than I, he was a childhood friend of my older brother, Nicholas, and it was the latter relationship which enabled one to know the fire in this unquenchable advocate of human rights. In his formative years, he was well known in the neighborhood along with Segun Adegoke, Olu Olubusade, Bunmi Fagbemi, Mike and Noah Fadayomi. He was called 'Egin Gani' by us the younger ones.

Gani had always been his own man. He was born to Seriki Tugbogbo Fawehinmi, a polygamous wealthy timber magnate and devout Muslim, who built one of the first sets of tiled houses in Ondo town. His father knew me by name, and whenever I walked past their house, on the way to my dad's grocery store, after my greeting to him, asked: "Ba é ké?" which means in Ondo dialect "How is your Dad"?

Gani had always been an inspiration to many since his youthful days. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he went to the Ansar-ud-deen Primary School founded by his father at Oke-Yemoja, Ondo and later went to Victory College, Ikare for his secondary school education. Whenever he was home for holidays, Gani and his peers would gather for discussions on the topical issues of the times and the Shakespearian books studied in those colonial days.

Almost any Nigerian of repute who has been or is involved in civil rights knows Gani's antecedents. But not many are probably aware of the catalyst which fired Gani into making human rights a life cause. Finishing from Victory College, Gani went in search of the Golden Fleece and eventually went into reading law in England. It was during this period that his father passed on and with this development Gani's source of educational fund dried up. Gani, being an only son of his mother, instantly became a worry for the old woman, who scampered here and there to ensure that his son's zest for that law degree was not dampened.

In fact, she met my dad for assistance at that time. And information had it that she finally borrowed money to allow Gani complete his education. It was this experience of sudden financial hardship at the demise of his father, which I believe contributed to shaping Gani's outlook to life. Thus, after his law degree he took up sensational legal cases for the oppressed that he won and whose proceeds were used in liquidating the loans obtained by his mum.

Gani thereafter initiated a scholarship program for indigent and qualified students in Ondo town to pursue their education. This program became an annual event and was later extended to all Nigerians no matter their tribal or religious affiliation. Such is the altruistic nature of Gani who did not use his position and wealth to oppress but alleviate the pains of the poor and dispossessed in our society.

Gani was always on the side of the masses in our country that the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) dubbed him the 'Senior Advocate of the Masses' (SAM) when the Nigerian Bar Association played politics with the award of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), which was belatedly given to him and for which he was superlatively qualified to receive. But in all Gani's activism, he used the courts and the rule of law to advance his causes. Gani stood out boldly as one of the voices against injustice in the entropic polity that is Nigeria. He was an ethical attorney who did not accept any case from any prospective client which was against the grain of truth and justice.

Gani fought military dictatorships in Nigeria. He was brutalized and incarcerated many times by the military goons. And not many are in doubt that these assaults and inhuman prison facilities might have contributed to his untimely death.

Gani, the man with a heart of steel, generous to a fault and humanist is no more. Gani did his bit. Until his death, he lived the law and by example. Gani was the nemesis of corrupt political elite and compromised members of the judiciary. He reminded all that religious affiliation and tribe are no boundaries when it comes to fighting injustice.

Gani taught all of us through his actions that wealth can be constructively utilized in improving the quality of life of those less privileged. And, that good training and morals are assets. It is now left for those of us in this valley of tears to continue the good fight. This is the only befitting task that would do Gani proud. Sleep well, 'Egin Gani.'