Femi Falana, a native of Ilawe , Ekiti State,
Nigeria was born on May 20, 1958. Femi Falana’s primary education began at St.
Michael’s Primary School, Ilawe, between 1963 and 1968. After which, Femi
attended Sacred Heart Catholic Seminary between 1971 and 1975.

Upon gaining admission into the University
of Ife (Obafemi Awolowo University), he studied law between 1977 and 1981 and was
called to the bar a year after. He worked with the Public Complaints
Commission  between 1982 and 1983 and practiced
as a lawyer under the firm of Alao Aka –Bashorun & CO. between1983 and 1991.
 In 1991, Femi Falana began his own
Chambers which is now known as Falana and Falana Chambers, having his wife
Funmi as a partner a partner. 
Femi Falana, popularly known as a human
right activist, has championed legal causes in support of human rights all through
his legal career. He is renowned for providing free legal services to the poor
and disadvantaged and had suffered long spells in detention under Nigeria’s
past military dictators. Femi also contested and lost the governorship election
of Ekiti State in 2007 on the platform of National Conscience Party,
a party he served as National Chairman in 2011.
For his legal prowess, he was conferred with
the rank, Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2012. Femi has published may articles,
papers and books including –
·        
Fundamental
Rights Enforcement, Legaltext Publishing Company 2005 (251 pages)
·        
Legal
and Policy Framework of Occupational Health and Safety in Nigeria in Idowu
Awopetu et al (eds) (1998)
·        
WORKING
IN DANGER, P. 52, a CDHR Publication, Editor-in-Chief, Weekly Report of Nigeria;
Femi Falana
belongs to many Professional Memberships and held various leadership positions
such as
President,
West African Bar Association, Member, Nigerian Bar Association and Member, West
African Bar Association, Member, Pan African Lawyers Union and Member,
International Bar Association. Mr Femi Falana ia a recipient of National and
International Awards / Honour. some of which are: “Defender of the year Award”
from the international league for Human Rights in 2000; The Ogoni merit award –
2002; Dr Kwame Nkrumah leadership award 2003; and Bernard Simon memorial award
for the advancement of human rights- 2003.
Falana & Falana’s Chambers is a leading
law firm in constitutional law and human rights services. His firm has
also represented many victims of human rights violation in Nigerian Courts and
the ECOWAS Community Court.