Date Published: 09/05/09

Gani’s Death a Great Loss to Nigeria  - Waziri

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mrs Farida Waziri has described the death of human rights activist and lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN as not only a great loss to his family but to the nation as a whole.

The EFCC boss in a statement on Saturday described Gani as ‘a principled, dogged, and unrelenting crusader, fully committed to any course he believes in.’

According to Mrs Waziri, ‘I am convinced that his death at this point in our nation building process will be missed by all. This is because his contributions not only to the development of the legal profession but to the socio-economic and political advancement of our country have been enormous. His type is rare, his personal sacrifices and selfless services are uncommon.

‘Soon after I won the case he instituted against my appointment at the federal high court in Abuja, I planned to meet him to commend his courage and fighting spirit, but his death has surely denied me the great opportunity of telling him face to face my admiration of his person. In fact, I had contacted one of the lawyers in his chambers just last week when I was in lagos to schedule the meeting but had to put that on hold due to avoid insinuations over his decision to appeal the high court judgement.

‘It is my prayer that the Almighty God will grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.’