* Buhari, NBA, others commiserate with family
Mohammed, the eldest son of the late legal luminary, Gani Fawehinmi, died Wednesday at the age of 52.
Family sources said he complained of breathing difficulty in the morning and was rushed to an undisclosed hospital where he died.
Mohammed’s death came 12 years after his father’s Gani on September 5, 2009.
Born on February 21, 1969, Mohammed attended Kotun Memorial Primary School, Surulere, Lagos, and his secondary education at Federal Government College, Sokoto.
He was a graduate of Business Administration of the University of Lagos in 1991.
He also obtained an LLB degree from the University of Buckingham, England and was called to Nigerian Bar in 1998. He has had over 20 years experience in the practice of law.
A car accident he had on September 23, 2003, while returning from court resulted in a spinal cord injury, which confined him to wheelchair until his death.
His father had made spirited efforts to restore his son by taking him to the best hospitals in the world, all to no avail.
Although he managed the law firm of his father, he has been unable to practice law the way his father had hoped.
Nonetheless, he was Head, Mohammed Fawehinmi’s Chambers; Director, Nigerian Law Publications Limited; Director, Books Industries Nigeria Limited, and Director, Gani Fawehinmi Library and Gallery Limited.
President Muhammadu Buhari has sent commiseration to the Gani Fawehinmi family over the death of their son, Mohammed.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari particularly condoled widow of the late iconic Gani Fawehinmi and the mother of the deceased, Mrs Ganiat Fawehinmi, urging her to take solace in God
“President Muhammadu Buhari commiserates with the family of the late irrepressible lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi, over the death of their son, Mohammed.
“The President condoles with Ganiat, mother of the deceased, and the entire family, urging them to find comfort in God, who gives and takes, and to draw consolation in the fact that the departed robustly fought a debilitating condition, which confined him to the wheelchair for many years”, the statement said.
Buhari said: “His body may have been broken, but his spirit was virile, agile, and he kept the flag of the family flying, doing justice to the memory of his late father.”
While praying for the repose of the soul of the departed, President Buhari urged strength for all those who mourn Mohammed Fawehinmi.
Also, the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has described Mohammed’s death as a huge loss the legal community.
Its chairman, Mr. Bartholomew Aguegbodo, said this on Thursday in Lagos.
According to him, the late Mohammed was a huge supporter and regular feature at the Chief Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture organised by the Ikeja branch of the NBA.
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.
Aguegbodo stated that the NBA is grieving and would reach out to the Fawehinmi family.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo, said: “My brother, friend and son of my late boss, Mohammed Fawehinmi, is gone. I am speechless and heartbroken. I just spoke with the eldest daughter Basirat and she confirmed it.
Keyamo and Mohammed
“Mohammed was energetic and very intellectually alert, despite his mishap. He kept the flame of his family burning. We will sorely miss him,” he concluded.
It is noteworthy that Keyamo, as a young lawyer, had his tutelage under Gani Fawehinmi.