A former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Uwais, has died at the age of 88.
He passed away in the early hours of Friday, according to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State, Dr. Kayode Ajulo.
Justice Uwais served as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) from 1995 until his retirement in 2006.
Born on June 12, 1936, in Zaria, Kaduna State, Uwais began his legal journey with determination and focus. He was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in London in 1963. Upon returning to Nigeria, he joined the public service as a State Counsel in the Northern Region and quickly advanced through the ranks.
By the age of 36, Uwais had already secured a place on the High Court Bench. At 41, he was appointed to the Federal Court of Appeal, and by 43, he had earned his seat on the Supreme Court. These milestones marked the beginning of a judicial career that would span more than three decades. He spent a total of 27 years on the bench, 11 of which he served as Chief Justice.
Justice Uwais was widely respected for his dedication to judicial reforms and maintaining the independence of the judiciary. Among his most significant contributions was the establishment of the National Judicial Council (NJC), an institution created to safeguard the integrity and autonomy of the Nigerian judiciary by overseeing the appointment and discipline of judicial officers.
Following his retirement in 2006, Uwais continued to play a critical role in national affairs. In 2007, he was appointed by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to chair the Presidential Electoral Reform Committee. The work of this committee culminated in what is popularly referred to as the “Uwais Report,” a document that proposed sweeping reforms to Nigeria’s electoral system. Notably, it recommended the creation of an independent electoral offences commission and a restructured process for appointing the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The committee featured a cross-section of prominent Nigerians, including Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and Senior Advocate of Nigeria Dr Olisa Agbakoba. Their collective efforts under Uwais’s leadership produced recommendations that remain central to conversations about electoral credibility and democratic development in Nigeria.
Justice Uwais was widely respected for his unwavering dedication to the rule of law. Colleagues often recalled his calm demeanor, razor-sharp intellect, and quiet but resolute approach to justice. He steered clear of public controversy and carried out his responsibilities with a focus that earned him admiration across political and ideological divides.
In his later years, he remained an active voice in discussions about judicial ethics, governance, and institutional reform.
