The Nigerian Weekly Law Reports at 40

 

By Akin Kuponiyi

The crème de la crème of the legal profession on Thursday gathered at the Civic Centre along Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, to celebrate forty years of excellence in sustaining the publication of the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports (1985–2025), established by the legal icon Chief Gani Fawehinmi, L.L.D., D.Litt., SAM, SAN, GCON.

Among the legal personalities present at the epoch-making event were the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, GCON, who was ably represented by Justice Iyang Okoro; the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division; the keynote speaker and former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN; the chief launcher, Dr. Bolanle Olawale Babalakin, SAN; and alumni of Gani Fawehinmi Chambers, including Justice Abiodun Azeez Akinyemi of the Court of Appeal and Justices Roli Harriman and Marcel C. Okoli of Delta State.

Some Senior Advocates of Nigeria in attendance included Taiwo Kupolati, Tayo Oyetibo, and Wemimo Ogunde. Members of the Gani Fawehinmi family were also present, including one of his grandsons who flew in from London.

Both past and present editorial crew members who have sustained the legacy of the legal icon were there to showcase the laudable achievements Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, left behind. These included NWLR Online, the electronic innovation of the publication, as well as two other works: Nigeria Case Law Dictionary (NCLD) and 40 Years of Trailblazing Law Reporting in Nigeria.

The Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the NWLR and Chairman of the Editorial Board, Mr. Ayo Olanrewaju, in his welcome address, reiterated that the NWLR has become part of the legal architecture of Nigeria and holds a pride of place in any law library. He added that it has become an essential part of the administration of justice in Nigeria and has fulfilled the mission of its founder—to make available, as quickly as possible, the judgments of the appellate courts.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, who formally declared open the 40th anniversary celebration of the NWLR, urged the management to continue to innovate and safeguard the integrity of the publication. He emphasized that, in a rapidly changing world, maintaining excellence in law reporting is a collective responsibility that demands both adaptation and unwavering commitment to accuracy and scholarship.

The former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, in his keynote address titled “Safeguarding the Legacy of Law Reporting and Embracing the Future in the Technological Era,” said:

“I think it is safe to say that all the objectives of access to judgments, supporting the administration of justice, and internationally projecting Nigerian law and jurisprudence, among others, have not only been met but have been exceeded.

The existence of an electronic version, the NWLR Online—which was not in contemplation in 1985 but was established in 2019—confirms that beyond doubt. The NWLR, in both hard and electronic form, is one of the main points of reference. This validates the concerns of the organizers of this event about the future of law reporting in general and the NWLR in particular.”

The Editor of the NWLR, Barrister Oluwole Kehinde, in his remarks, said that Gani Fawehinmi was a renowned Nigerian lawyer, human rights activist, and social critic. Born in Ondo State, he studied law at Holborn College, London, and was called to the Bar in 1965. Despite early struggles after the death of his father, he rose to become one of the most fearless defenders of justice, often taking up cases pro bono for the poor and oppressed.

Through his legal battles, he challenged corruption, defended press freedom, and resisted military dictatorship—earning both admiration and repeated arrests. Beyond the courtroom, Fawehinmi founded the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports and the National Conscience Party, using both as platforms to promote justice and democracy. He was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2001 and received numerous awards, though he famously rejected some national honours in protest against poor governance.

Remembered as “the people’s lawyer,” Gani Fawehinmi’s legacy endures as a symbol of courage, integrity, and unwavering commitment to the rights of ordinary Nigerians.