BREAKING: Justice Mohammed Uwais, Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Dies at 89

The judiciary and the nation at large have lost a towering figure with the death of Justice Mohammed Uwais, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, who died at 89 years old in the early hours of Friday. The announcement was made by Dr. Kayode Ajulo, Ondo State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

Justice Uwais’s tenure as Chief Justice spanned from 1995 until his retirement in 2006, during which he was instrumental in upholding the rule of law and judicial independence. Post-retirement, he was appointed by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to chair the Presidential Electoral Reform Committee. This committee, which featured influential members like Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and human rights lawyer Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, was charged with proposing vital reforms to Nigeria’s electoral framework.

His efforts in this role demonstrated his unwavering commitment to electoral integrity and democratic consolidation in Nigeria.

Details regarding his funeral arrangements remain pending. Tributes from across the legal, political, and civil society sectors are expected to honor his remarkable contributions to Nigeria’s judiciary and democracy.