In Nigeria, Femi Falana is one of the names that come to mind when activism is mentioned. Read further for detailed information about Femi Falana Biography and Net Worth.
Femi Falana Biography
Femi was a member of the late Gani Fawehmin’s activism movement. May 20, 1958, representing the birthday of the human rights activist lawyer. He hails from Ilawe, Ekiti State.
Femi Falana Biography | |
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Full Name | Femi Falana |
Born | 20 May 1958 |
Age | 64 (2022) |
Net Worth | $80,000,000 |
Wife | Funmi Falana |
Children | Folakemi Falana, Folarin Falana, Foladele Falana |
Education
He received his primary education at St Michael Primary in his hometown, Ilawe, Ekiti. For his secondary school education, he attended a seminary school, Sacred Heart Catholic Seminary where he took his WAEC examination in 1975.
He studied law at Obafemi Awolowo University, a famous university in Nigeria. In 1981, he graduated with honors. In 1982, he was called to the bar.
Also, read Olusegun Obasanjo’s Biography.
Career
Following his graduation from law school, he began his legal career with the Alao Akala Bashorun and Co law company, where he worked for eight years. He spent a year working for the Public Complaints Commission before joining the firm as a lawyer.
Falana has proven to be one of the top lawyers in the business throughout the years, and his unwitting love for human rights has motivated him to accumulate resources to start his legal firm.
In 1991, Falana established his law firm, Falana and Falana Chambers with offices in Lagos, Abuja, and Ekiti. He is the senior partner of the firm alongside his lovely wife, Funmi Falana who is also a human rights activist lawyer. In 2012, He was appointed as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Femi Falana has been detained several times throughout his career, dating back to Nigeria’s dictatorial days. Femi is outspoken about his opposition to bad governance and human rights violations. He is a supporter of the Nigerian Constitution being replaced.
In addition, he is well-known for taking pro bono cases and assisting persons seeking justice but lacking financial resources. He began his career by defending the rights of seven students from the University of Ibadan who had been wrongfully incarcerated.
From then till now, he has continued to fight on behalf of the people in various cases including human rights violations, murder, fraud, and other legal issues. In recent times, he has agreed to represent the Adegoke family pro bono in the tumultuous murder case of their son.
Governorship Aspirant
Femi Falana took a shot at politics when he ran for governor in the 2003 Ekiti state elections under the National Conscience Party(NCP).
He lost in the election as his party could not match up the resources and popularity garnered by the two leading parties (AD and PDP) in the state.
In preparation for the 2011 elections, he was appointed as the National Chairman of the party.
Awards
Femi Falana has been decorated with awards and honors for his good work and contributions to the legal system in Nigeria as well as his role in activism. He is the recipient of the following awards:
- 2000, Defender of the year award, International League for Human Rights
- 2002, Ogoni Merit Award
- 2003, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Leadership award
- 2003, Bernard Simon Memorial Award
Also, he holds key positions in the legal setting in Nigeria
- Member, West African Bar Association (he was one time the president of the association)
- A Member, Nigeria Bar Association
- Member, Pan Africa Lawyers Union, and Members.
- A Member, International Bar Association of Nigeria
Femi Falana Wife
Funmi Falana as mentioned earlier is also a legal practitioner just like her husband. She didn’t start as a lawyer rather she was a physicist before she changed her mind after many years to read law.
She went back to school to read civil law after getting married and having her first child. Funmi attended St. Louis Grammar School, Akure, Ondo State. She studied physics at the University of Benin while she studied law at the University of Lagos. Also, she got her master’s degree in law from the same university.
The couple had met through a mutual friend in Ondo State before getting along together. The marriage is blessed with three children: Folakemi, Folarin, and Foladele.
She co-run their law firm with her husband. She is the National Director of WELA (Women Empowerment and Legal Aid), a Non – Governmental Organization created to help powerless women and children seek justice against the violation of their rights.
The organization has helped several women and children in cases ranging from molestation, rape, domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, and sexual harassment.
Another way the organization helps is by providing training programs for women and children to learn new skills and empowering them at the end of the program.
Also, read Ned Nwoko’s Biography.
Children
- Folakemi Falana: She is the eldest and the first daughter of Femi Falana. Folakemi is an entertainment lawyer, women’s rights activist, influencer, and podcaster. She is a graduate of the University of Westminster where she studied law. She is one of the senior associates and a founding partner at her father’s law firm, Falana & Falana Chambers.
Coupled with her lawyer job, she runs Mobile Market, a company she set up to help small-scale businesses. She is also an advocate for mental health awareness and also runs a support group for widows.
She lost her husband, Juwon Majekodunmi to the cold hands of death a year after marriage. The details surrounding his death are a mystery to the general public.
- Folarin Falana: Folarin is the only son and the second child of the Falana family. He is popularly known for his stage name ‘FALZ’. He is a music artiste, songwriter, TV personality, actor, and lawyer as well. Falz also read Law just like his elder sister at the University of Reading, England. Folarin switched his career from being a lawyer to focusing on showbiz.
Folarin is also a human rights activist like his parents, he uses his music as an avenue to speak against bad governance and violation of human rights. During the ENDSARS protest, Folarin was so much invested in the protest as he was available on the protest ground to air and support the struggle.
- Foladele Falana: She is the last child of the Falana family. Foladele is a writer, blogger, TV presenter, influencer, and media personality. She had worked at TVC communications as the Senior Producer for the popular show, Esplash before she left in 2021. She is happily married to Samuel Ngadi, they got married in 2017.
Femi Falana Net Worth
Femi Falana is one of the famous and richest lawyers in the country. He is valued to be worth 80 million dollars according to several sources. However, this value may or may not give a reasonable estimate of how much he is worth but one thing for sure is that he is one of the richest lawyers in Nigeria.
Publications
Femi Falana is an accomplished and well-known attorney who also enjoys writing. He is the author of several works, including:
- ECOWAS Court: Law and Practice
- Fundamental Rights Enforcement in Nigeria
- Nigeria Law on Socio-Economic Rights
Also, read Dele Momodu’s Biography.
Occupy Nigeria
In 2012, Occupy Nigeria, a protest held against the ex-president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan over his decision to remove fuel subsidy was held across the nation. Muhammad Buhari, Femi Falana, Tunde Bakare, El-Rufai, Dino Melaye, and many others were part of the driving force for the protest.
Summary of Femi Falana Biography and Net Worth
Femi Falana (SAN) is a human rights lawyer and the senior manager of the law firm, Falana & Falana Chambers. He is an advocate for human rights and good governance. He is married to Funmi Falana and blessed with three children: Folakemi, Folarin, and Foladele.
The renowned lawyer, Femi Falana Net Worth is estimated to be around $80 million.
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Before you go, read Charles Soludo’s Biography.