UPDATED: Ex-CJN Uwais dies at 89
An ex-Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Mohammed Uwais has died at the age of 89 years.
The Nation learnt that he died earlier today in Abuja. Sources at the Supreme Court confirmed the development.
The Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in Ondo State, Kayode Ajulo (SAN) and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) equally confirmed the death of the eminent jurist in thier moving tributes.
Preparations are said to be underway for a funeral prayer and his interment.
Born on June 12, 1936, Justice Uwais served as the CJN between 1995 and 2006.
Shortly after his retirement, he was appointed by the late President Umaru Musa Yar Adua to lead the Electoral Reform Committee.
The late jurist was to the Bar by the Middle Temple, London, in 1963 after graduating from the University of London.
He served as a State Counsel and Senior State Counsel (1966-1970), before his appointment as a Judge of the High Court, and later Chief Judge, of Kaduna State (1973-1976).
In 1977, he was appointed a Justice of the Court of Appeal, and in 1979 as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
In 1995, he was appointed Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC).
Justice Uwais served as Chairman, Body of Benchers (BOB) between 1993 and 1994; Chairman, Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute (NJI) from 1995 to 2006 and Chairman, Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Awards of Contracts by the Military Government of North Central State (1976).
He was also Chairman of the Jimeta Disturbances Tribunal, Gongola State of Nigeria (1984); and a Commonwealth Member of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the deaths of senior army personnel, Sri Lanka (1993).
He was the Honorary President of the World Jurist Association, Washington D.C; Honorary Fellow of the Society for Advanced Legal Studies, London; and a Member of the Board of Trustees, Global Legal Information Network Foundation (GLIN), Washington D.C.
He was Chairman of the Nigerian Electoral Reform Committee (2007-2008); and was appointed Chancellor of Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina, Katsina State in 2011.
Ajulo and Adegboruwa described the deceased as a quintessential jurist who will be missed by all.
Ajulo said: “It is with profound sorrow that I mourn the passing of Chief Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais, GCON, who has departed this world today.
“As I contemplate his significant impact on my life as a lawyer and the lives of countless Nigerians, I am filled with deep appreciation for his enduring legacy.
“My first appearance in any court was at the Supreme Court, under the esteemed leadership of Justice Uwais.
“His dignified presence commanded respect, and his steadfast commitment to justice inspired not only the legal community but all citizens who sought fairness.
“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.
“His leadership as Chairman of the Electoral Reform Committee, alongside esteemed members such as Bishop Mathew Kukah and Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, OON, SAN, exemplified his remarkable wisdom.
“The recommendations he presented not only established new standards but also instilled in our system a profound understanding of law and the responsibilities it entails.
“Among his most significant contributions was the call for the establishment of an independent electoral commission, a vital measure designed to enhance the integrity and transparency of Nigeria’s electoral process.
“Furthermore, his committee championed the integration of technology in elections, advocating for electronic voting and the transmission of results—initiatives aimed at reducing fraud and fostering public confidence in our electoral system.
“The reforms also underscored the critical need for voter education and equitable political party financing, ensuring that elections became more accessible and just for all.
“The lasting impact of these recommendations continues to shape our electoral policies and informs the ongoing discourse on improving democratic practices in Nigeria.
“Justice Uwais was a true beacon of integrity, guiding the judiciary with grace and wisdom. His tenure as Chief Justice from 1995 to 2006 fundamentally transformed the landscape of our legal system, laying a foundation that continues to resonate today.
“Beyond the courtroom, he dedicated himself to the advancement of Nigeria’s electoral process, revealing a profound passion for democracy and good governance.
“Though he has left this earthly realm, his legacy will forever endure in the hearts of those he inspired.
“We honour his memory by striving for the justice and fairness he championed with unwavering resolve. Rest in peace, Chief Justice Uwais. Baba will be deeply missed,” Ajulo said.
Adegboruwa said the deceased “served Nigeria as a jurist with distinction, leveraging on his exalted office to preach unity, to deliver justice to those deserving and to promote integrity on the Bench.
“My Lord rose from his humble background in Zaria to join the highest court of the land with an unblemished record of diligence in service.
“As the longest serving jurist in the Supreme Court, My Lord deployed his wealth of experience to unite the Bench and Bar, rising ultimately to the peak of his career as the one of the longest serving Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1995 to 2006.
“His sojourn in the court was characterized by excellence, delivering landmark judgments and making worthy contributions to the judgments of others.
“However, the defining moment of My Lord’s positive impact upon our nation was when he turned in the report for electoral reforms which contained fundamental ideas for sanitizing our political space.
“The best way to honour this great jurist is for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to revisit the Uwais Panel Report for the reform of INEC and to implement the reforms contained in the said report,” Adegboruwa said.
