Skip to content
ABUJA, NIGERIA – Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Uwais, has died at 88. The Mohammed Uwais death was confirmed early Friday, June 6, 2025, by Ondo State’s Attorney General, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, and Supreme Court spokesperson, Dr. Festus Akande.
Born in Zaria, Kaduna State, on June 12, 1936, Justice Uwais had a distinguished legal career. He was called to the Bar at Middle Temple, London, in 1963. He served as Nigeria’s Chief Justice from 1995 until retiring in 2006. Dr. Akande stated, “Justice Uwais was instrumental in setting up the National Judicial Council, which helped protect the judiciary’s independence.” The Mohammed Uwais death marks a significant loss for Nigerian law.
Uwais: A Champion of Electoral Reform
Justice Uwais’s impact went beyond the courtroom. After retiring, he chaired the Presidential Electoral Reform Committee, established by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. This committee, including Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, laid groundwork for major electoral reforms.
“His leadership of the Electoral Reform Committee reflected his lifelong commitment to fairness and justice,” Bishop Kukah said. This post-retirement work highlights Uwais’s lasting effect on Nigeria’s governance. The Mohammed Uwais death is a loss for these reform efforts.
Nation Grieves Legal Icon After Mohammed Uwais Death
Tributes have followed the announcement of the Mohammed Uwais death. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed his sadness.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Uwais, who was not only a towering figure in our judiciary but also my in-law,” Atiku posted on X (formerly Twitter).
He praised Justice Uwais’s dedication to judicial integrity, calling his legacy “indelible.” Atiku added, “May Allah SWT forgive his sins, accept his good deeds, and grant him Aljannah Firdaus. Amin.”
By Abdullah Korede
