Mohammed Uwais, a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), has passed away at the age of 88 in the early hours of Friday. The news of his death was confirmed by Kayode Ajulo, the Attorney General of Ondo State.
Born in Zaria, Kaduna State, Uwais served as CJN from 1995 to 2006 and was known for being the second longest-serving chief justice in Nigeria’s history, having ascended to the apex court at the young age of 43.
Following his retirement from the Supreme Court, Uwais chaired a significant panel on electoral reform, appointed by then-President Umaru Yar’Adua, which submitted its report in December 2008. His contributions to the judiciary and the electoral system left a lasting legacy.
In a heartfelt statement, his family remarked, “Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihir Rajiun. It is with a 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 arrangements will be made immediately after Juma’at prayers today at the National Mosque, Abuja.”
Chidi Odinkalu, a human rights advocate and professor, shared his sorrow, stating, “Under him, Nigerians voted the judiciary as the Man of the Year in 2006. He was my birthday mate and a personal mentor. I mourn the passing of a truly good man.”
Ajulo praised Uwais as a “beacon of integrity,” noting that his tenure from 1995 to 2006 fundamentally transformed Nigeria’s legal landscape. He remarked, “Justice Uwais was instrumental in our journey of democratic development and nation-building, serving not only as a jurist but as a visionary reformist of our electoral process.”
Uwais’ leadership of the Electoral Reform Committee, which included notable figures such as Bishop Mathew Kukah and Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, OON, SAN, exemplified his remarkable wisdom. His committee made significant recommendations that established new standards for Nigeria’s electoral system, including the call for an independent electoral commission to enhance integrity and transparency.
Moreover, Uwais championed the integration of technology into elections, advocating for electronic voting and the transmission of results—initiatives aimed at reducing fraud and fostering public confidence in the electoral process.