Breaking: Another former Chief Justice of Nigeria announced dead

Nigeria has lost one of its most distinguished legal minds, as former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Lawal Uwais, has passed away at the age of 89.

According to a family source, Justice Uwais died on Friday in Abuja. His passing marks the end of an era for the nation’s judiciary, where he played a pivotal role for over a decade.

Born on June 12, 1936, Justice Uwais served as Chief Justice from 1995 until his retirement in 2006, making him one of the longest-serving heads of Nigeria’s judiciary. During his tenure, he was widely respected for his legal acumen, integrity, and contributions to constitutional development.

Following his retirement, Uwais remained active in national affairs. In 2007, he was appointed by then-President Umar Musa Yar’Adua to chair the Electoral Reform Committee. The panel, which submitted its report in 2008, made significant recommendations aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democratic processes, including the proposal for an independent electoral offenses commission.

Funeral arrangements are already underway, with family members preparing to lay him to rest in accordance with Islamic rites.

Justice Uwais’ death comes just days after the passing of another legal luminary, Justice Daniel Abutu, a former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. Justice Abutu died on June 3, 2025, at the age of 78, after a brief illness, according to a statement issued by the court’s Chief Registrar, Sulaiman Amida Hassan.

The Nigerian legal community and the nation at large are mourning the loss of two towering figures in the judiciary within the span of a few days.