Gani – Daughter
By Mudiaga Affe and James Azania
Published: Wednesday, 23 Apr 2008
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and renowned human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, has been diagnosed of having cancer of the lungs.
One of his daughters, Rabiat, made this disclosure to our correspondents during his 70th birthday anniversary in his Ikeja, Lagos residence on Tuesday.
The cause of Fawehinmi’s ailment had remained unknown since he left Nigeria for the United Kingdom for medical attention.
At the anniversary which attracted over 1,000 people, most of who were beggars and the physically challenged, Rabiat said that the ailment could not be detected in Nigeria.
She said, ”He was not given proper diagnosis of what was wrong with him in the hospital in Nigeria where he was attended to. They told him that something different was wrong with him. Even when he was trying to make sure that everything was alright, it was obvious that something was wrong somewhere.
“So, when the proper diagnosis was made, from then on, the proper medications were prescribed. He has been diagnosed of cancer. When he travelled to the UK, contrary to the insinuation that he had heart-related problem, doctors diagnosed that he had cancer; lung cancer.”
Fawehinmi’s state of health had remained a subject of concern to many Nigerians. He is believed to have had a long battle with asthma after he was detained in many parts of the country by past military regimes.
His close associate, the late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, was also said to have had a long bout of asthma, until he was diagnosed of a cancer- related ailment.
At the birthday ceremony on Tuesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said that the fight against fraud in Nigeria was initiated by Fawehinmi and the Nigerian press.
FULL REPORT