The Nigerian legal community is in mourning following the passing of Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais, who was a respected former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
It was gathered that Uwais passed away in the early hours of Friday at his residence in Abuja at the age of 89.
His passing was confirmed in a statement issued by the family on Friday.
In the statement, the family confirmed: “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 are to be done immediately after Juma’at Mosque today at the National Mosque Abuja.”
His death marks the end of an era as he was highly regarded for his impactful role in advancing Nigeria’s judiciary and driving electoral reforms.
Justice Uwais, who served as CJN from 1995 to 2006, was the second-longest-serving Chief Justice in Nigeria’s history, with an illustrious 27-year tenure as a Supreme Court Justice.
Appointed by late General Sani Abacha and retiring under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, his career spanned five military regimes and two civilian administrations, showcasing his resilience and dedication to judicial integrity
.Born in 1936, Uwais became a Supreme Court Justice at the remarkably young age of 43.
Also, Uwais chaired a panel on electoral reform as inaugurated by then-President Umaru Yar’Adua, after retiring from the Supreme Court.
