Chief Abdul-Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi, (22 April 1938 - 05 September 2009) was an author, publisher, philanthropist, social critic, human and civil rights lawyer, politician and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Popularly called Gani, he was born on 22 April 1938, into the Fawehinmi family in Ondo State. He went to College of Law- University of London to read law in 1961. While at University, his father died. He completed his academic degree in London with a measure of difficulty due to lack of funds. This involved doing various menial jobs in London. While in college, he was popularly known as 'Nation' because of his passionate interest in national, legal and political affairs.

In 1993 Fawehinmi was awarded the biennial Bruno Kreisky Prize, and international human rights price. In 1998, he received the International Bar Association's 'Bernard Simmons Award' in recognition of his human-rights and pro-democracy work. In 1994 he and some other notable Nigerians formed the National Conscience Party of Nigeria which exists till today and he stood for a presidential election in 2003 under the umbrella of the National Conscience Party. Gani Fawehinmi was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the highest legal title in Nigeria in September, 2001. With his boundless energy he tenaciously and uncompromisingly pursued and crusaded his beliefs, principles and ideals for the untrammeled rule of law, undiluted democracy, all embracing and expansive social justice, protection of fundamental human rights and respect for the hopes and aspirations of the masses who are victims of misgovernment of the affairs of the Nation. 

In 1986, while Chief Gani Fawehinmi was Dele Giwa's Lawyer, the latter was killed in a bomb blast under suspicious circumstances. As a result of his activities Chief Gani Fawehinmi had been arrested, detained and charged to court several times. His international passport was seized on many occasions and his residence and Chambers were searched several times. He was beaten up time after time and was deported from one part of the country to another to prevent him from being able to effectively reach out to the masses among whom he was popular. His books were confiscated by the Federal Military Government and his library at Surulere, a suburb of Lagos, was set ablaze. His law Chambers at Anthony Village, Lagos State was invaded by persons suspected to be agents of the government. The guards were shot, two of them seriously wounded.

In the process of his crusades for the rule of law, the hopes and aspirations of the poor and the oppressed, he fought many battles against military dictatorship as a result of which he had been arrested several times by the military governments and their numerous security agents. He was dumped in many police cells and detained in several prisons between 1969 and 1996. While in prison at various times Gani said that poisonous gas was pumped into his cell. This caused his health to deteriorate. He was later diagnosed to have cancer. He died in the early hours of 05 September 2009 after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 71 years old. He was buried on September 15, 2009 in his home town of Ondo, Nigeria. Gani Fawehinmi died a disappointed man, because of the state of his country at the time of his death.

In 2008 Mr Gani Fawehinmi rejected one of the highest national honours that can be bestowed on a citizen by the Nigerian government - Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) - in protest of the many years of misrule since Nigeria's independence.