Richard Akinnola, a renowned journalist and ally to the late human rights lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, has condemned Brigadier-General Kunle Togun (retd.) over his allegations against the activist.
Togun is a former Deputy Director of the State Security Service.
Akinnola described the allegations as โegregious, insidious, and fallaciousโ in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday.
The statement responded to an interview Togun granted on the Edmund Obilo podcast, where he claimed Fawehinmi harboured resentment against the military dictator, Ibrahim Babangidaโs regime due to an alleged business favour from the regime of Muhammadu Buhari that was disrupted by the 1985 coup.
Akinnola dismissed Togunโs assertion as outright falsehood, stating that Fawehinmi was never a businessman and had no financial dealings with the Buhari regime.
According to him, Fawehinmiโs unwavering support for Buhariโs anti-corruption campaign under Decree 3 of 1984 did not extend to violations of the rule of law, citing the lawyerโs fierce opposition to the regimeโs disobedience of court orders.
Akinnola wrote, โHe said that Gani was so much against the Babangida regime because he was pained that the Babangidaโs coup, which overthrew General Buhari, scuttled Buhariโs business favour to Gani, which was in the works before Buhari was overthrown. He said Gani supported the Buhari regime, particularly in the trial of politicians for corruption by military tribunals.
โThere was no doubt that Gani supported General Buhariโs war on corruption with the setting up of Recovery of Public Property (Special Military Tribunals) Decree 3 of 1984, which pitted him against the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
โWhile itโs true that Gani supported the Buhari junta in the trial of politicians and former public officers, his support was not blanket. He squared up with Buhari when it came to matters of the rule of law and disobedience to court orders. One example would suffice.โ
He recalled an instance where Fawehinmi took a stand against the government over the wrongful interdiction of firefighter Saidu Garba, which led to the resignation of Justice Yaya Jinadu.
Refuting Togunโs claim that Fawehinmi sought government patronage, Akinnola stressed that the late legal iconโs only engagements were in law practice, legal writing, and publishing.
The veteran journalist further quoted Tell Interview of July 24, 1995, on pages 9-20 titled, โI am evil geniusโ and Voice of Nigeria (VON) Hausa Service interview, which was widely reported on October 24, 2000, where Babangida effortlessly praised the late activist emphasising that he was never seen as a corrupt individual but rather as a true, genuine critic and principled fighter of the June 12.
Akinnola further exposed similar fabrications made in the past by Fawehinmiโs erstwhile friend, Dr. Olu Onagoruwa.
He recalled how Onagoruwa, after accepting an appointment as Attorney General under the Sani Abacha regime against Fawehinmiโs advice, later alleged in his book that Buhari facilitated the purchase of Fawehinmiโs London apartment.
Akinnola stressed the importance of setting the record straight to protect Fawehinmiโs legacy from baseless distortions.
He reaffirmed that those who knew and worked with Fawehinmi would continue to counter false narratives that tarnish his reputation.
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