Former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mohammed Uwais, passed away in the early hours of Friday at the age of 88.
His death was confirmed by Dr. Kayode Ajulo, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State.
Here are some key facts about the late Justice Uwais:
- Birth and Early Career: Born on June 12, 1936, in Zaria, Kaduna State, Justice Uwais was called to the Bar at Middle Temple, London, in 1963. He began his legal career as a State Counsel in Nigeria’s Northern Region and became a Justice of the Supreme Court in 1979.
- Judicial Leadership: He was highly regarded for his dedication to judicial reforms and the independence of the judiciary. In 1995, he was appointed Chief Justice of Nigeria, a position he held until his retirement in 2006.5
- Electoral Reform Efforts: Following his retirement, Justice Uwais chaired the Presidential Electoral Reform Committee in 2007, inaugurated by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. This committee produced the influential “Uwais Report,” which proposed significant changes to Nigeria’s electoral system, including the creation of an independent electoral offenses commission and reforms to the appointment process for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman.
- Family: His wife, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, a lawyer, served in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as Special Adviser and Coordinator of the Social Investment Programmes.
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