Former Chief Justice of Nigeria Mohammed Lawal Uwais is dead

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 death, 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.