Friday, June 6, 2025 - Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais, has passed away at the age of 88. The jurist died on Friday, June 6, 2025.
The family, in a statement confirming his de@th, said: “Inna
Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihir Rajiun. It is with heavy heart, full of gratitude to
Allah Subahanahu Wata’ala, that we announce the passing away of our father,
Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais, former Chief Justice of the Federation.” Funeral
rites were scheduled to take place after Juma’at prayers at the National Mosque
in Abuja, in accordance with Islamic tradition.
Born on June 12, 1936, in Zaria, Kaduna State, Justice Uwais
was a towering figure in Nigeria’s legal landscape. He was renowned for his
commitment to judicial integrity, independence, and systemic reform throughout
a career that spanned several decades.
He was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in London in
1963 and began his legal career as a State Counsel in Northern Nigeria. In
1979, he was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court and went on to serve
as Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1995 until his retirement in 2006.
Justice Uwais championed the independence of the judiciary
and led efforts to strengthen the legal framework in Nigeria. After his
retirement, he remained engaged in national affairs. In 2007, President Umaru
Musa Yar’Adua appointed him to chair the Presidential Electoral Reform
Committee, which produced the landmark “Uwais Report.” The report advocated for
the establishment of an Independent Electoral Offences Commission and reforms
to the appointment process of the INEC Chairman, aiming to bolster transparency
in Nigeria’s electoral system.
He was widely admired for his humility, legal acumen, and
principled leadership. Justice Uwais is survived by his wife, Mrs. Maryam
Uwais, a lawyer and human rights advocate who served as Special Adviser and
Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programmes under former President
Muhammadu Buhari.
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