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Prominent legal practitioners and civil society leaders on Friday demanded justice for the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), calling for the demolition of a four-storey building erected beside his residence in Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
The call was made during a protest and press conference held by a coalition of the late Fawehinmi’s friends and close associates convened just days after 87th posthumous birthday of the legal chief marked on April 22, 2025.
“The purpose of this gathering is simple. It is to demand justice for Chief Gani Fawehinmi and the great family he left behind. The essence is to see that justice is done and manifestly seen to be done,” the group said in a statement signed by human rights lawyers Femi Falana (SAN), Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), and others including Adindu Ugwuzor, Richard Akinnola, Edetaen Ojo, Bayo Alabidun, Lanre Arogundade, and Femi Aborisade.
The coalition condemned what they described as a blatant disregard for building regulations and the safety of Fawehinmi’s family. According to the group, the construction of the multi-storey hotel, described as a hotel or apartment complex, was carried out almost on top of the fence of Fawehinmi’s house, despite warnings from the family.
“This is because an individual or group of individuals, either acting in utter contempt of the rules and regulations guiding property development in Lagos State or acting in connivance with unscrupulous government officials, have decided to erect a four-storey hotel… right by the fence protecting the front part of Chief Gani’s house,” the statement noted.
They described the developers’ actions as reckless and potentially criminal, citing the collapse of a 1,000-litre water tank from the building into the compound on three different occasions.
“A 1000-litre capacity water tank installed right on top of this 4-storey structure has thrice collapsed and fallen into Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s compound… We are fortunate that no one has so far been hurt or killed,” the group stated. “We do not want to wait until any such catastrophe occurs before taking action.”
The coalition outlined three key demands: Immediate demolition of the building for violating Lagos State building regulations, particularly the required three-metre setback between structures, removal of the building due to its potential use as a vantage point by persons with criminal intent, given its height and commercial use and demolition to eliminate the continuous threat it poses to the security and safety of lives and property in Fawehinmi’s residence.
Fawehinmi, who died in 2009 at the age of 71, was known for his unwavering commitment to the rule of law, human rights, and social justice. The group recalled how he suffered repeated arrests, detentions, and eventual health complications from his activism, especially during Nigeria’s military era.
“Without such enormous sacrifices by him and other heroes of the anti-military struggles, Nigeria will not today be running a democratic system of government,” they said.
They stressed that allowing such endangerment of Fawehinmi’s legacy and his family’s safety was unacceptable. “This injustice should not, cannot and must not be allowed to stand,” the group declared.
The protest signals the beginning of what the coalition warned could be a series of actions to ensure justice is done.
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