Some senior lawyers in Nigeria have continued to pay tribute to the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), the late Mohammed Uwais, describing him as an incorruptible statesman.

Meanwhile, a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, said that the best way to immortalise Uwais was to implement the report of the electoral reform committee he headed.

Former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN); human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN); Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) and anti-corruption lawyer, Dr Wahab Shittu (SAN), all described the late CJN as upright, incorruptible and an erudite jurist well-versed in the law.

Another SAN, Tayo Oyetibo, expressing sadness, described the former CJN, who passed on Friday, as a distinguished jurist and an incorruptible statesman whose contributions to Nigeria’s legal and political landscape remain unmatched.

Agbakoba said the deceased was a gentleman par excellence, who joined the Supreme Court at a young age and became one of its longest-serving Justices. He added that Uwais was part of the legendary Supreme Court Justices, alongside notable figures like Aniagolu, Eso, Idigbe, Obaseki, Nnamani and Oputa.

In his tribute, Adegboruwa praised the late justice for using his vast experience to foster unity within the bench and bar.

The human rights lawyer said Uwais’ distinguished service culminated in a pivotal report on electoral reforms aimed at sanitising Nigeria’s political space. He called on President Bola Tinubu to honour his legacy by revisiting the Uwais Panel Report on the reform of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and implementing its recommendations.

On his part, Shittu reflected on the significance of Justice Uwais’s passing.

The university lecturer said: “Uwais chose an auspicious time to leave this world. He passed away on Eid Mubarak, a Friday remarkable for Juma’h prayers for Muslims globally.

“This timing could reflect the good character he demonstrated in life. He was indeed one of our finest jurists. However, what stands out about his passing is not just this coincidence but the principles he advocated throughout his life.”

Owonikoko described the late jurist as a man of dignity and integrity who was the only Justice of the Supreme Court to openly declare his assets from his days at elementary school, with details of his bank account, starting from Barclays Bank DCO till his retirement in 2006 on reaching the mandatory age of 70 years.

“He was a gentleman par excellence whose tenure on the Supreme Court Bench witnessed an admirable consistency in the judicial precedents established by the judgments of the court,” Oyetibo stated.

He lauded the late jurist for discharging his functions while in the office with honour and incorruptible mien.

In a statement, yesterday, Okechukwu lamented that 17 years down the line, successive governments failed to implement the vital sections of the report of the Uwais Electoral Reform Committee.

He stated that neglecting the recommendations of the report resulted in “collateral damages, multidimensional poverty, gross unemployment, huge debt burden, crass inequality and general insecurity.”

Okechukwu reminded the nation that the Uwais Committee Report was meant to enhance the higher percentage of voters’ participation, reduce electoral malpractices and engender free, credible and transparent elections, and, most importantly, the public nomination of chairmen and members of electoral commissions at the national and state level.

He appealed to Tinubu to “as a matter of urgent national importance, muster the political will and clear the Uwais debt burden by amending the Constitution, albeit to make public appointments of chairmen and members of both national and state electoral commissions mandatory.”