lt was total mayhem at the home of late Gani Fawehinmi late Thursday when a surprise visitor came calling.
Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, arrived at the residence at about 6.30pm dressed in a white Babanriga and a black skullcap accompanied by his lawyer, Femi Falana. He went straight to speak with the late lawyer's spouses and children.
After his 15 minutes discussion with the family, Mr. Ribadu signed the condolence register. He wrote in about 10 lines, saying he came to pay his last respect to a great Nigerian who fought genuinely for the poor, and to express gratitude to a man who "shaped my life by the example of a worthy living." When a journalist sought his views about the state of the nation, and about his time at Oxford University in the U.K. where he is completing a fellowship at St. Anthony's College, Mr. Ribadu said, "It's absolutely not about me that we are here today gentlemen. It's about a man who showed great example in sacrifice and selflessness. That is why I am here and kindly do let us keep it to that.
As he sought to leave, other mourners turned into a cheering crowd seeking a photo opportunity with him and damaging his car as he tried to evade the surging admirers.
From the house, Mr. Ribadu along with the Fawehinmi's drove to the mortuary where the remains of Mr. Fawehinmi laid at the Lekan Ogunsola Memorial Home at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.
At the mortuary, flanked by Gani's two wives, and about half a dozen children, Mr. Ribadu moved towards the corpse which was being dressed as they entered and, touching it, started saying a silent prayer asking God to "forgive Mr. Fawehinmi's sins, as we seek a passage for him to paradise."
Mr. Ribadu added in heavy voice: "Here you lay quiet and gentle, and for all that will secure you easy path to the realm of the anointed, let Allah place a blessing today."
While in the mortuary, news of his presence had spread, attracting a large crowd at the gate, making it difficult to leave easily.
Many stretched their hands to touch him, others seeking autographs. "It is a proper thing for him to do" Mr. Falana said of his client's visit, adding that "Ribadu and Gani were like father and son and there was no way he would be at peace with himself not to say the final good bye."
After leaving the hospital, Mr. Ribadu then drove off towards the Murtala Muhammed airport.
Mr. Ribadu was dismissed from the police on 23 December 2008 in a controversial decision by the Nigerian Police Service Commission. He is currently on a fellowship at Saint Antony's College at the Oxford University in the United Kingdom.
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