abuja: Prof. Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says the death of Justice Lawal Uwais at 89 came as a shock to him and the entire nation.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ozekhome described Uwais as a towering figure in Nigeria’s legal and constitutional landscape.
“One cannot say he died too young – he surpassed the average Nigerian male lifespan of 61.2 years,” the senior lawyer reflected.
Ozekhome noted that Uwais joined the Supreme Court with striking energy at age 43 and served as Chief Justice for 11 years.
“He left visible, enduring legacies. His tenure on the bench was marked by discipline, integrity, and deep legal scholarship,” Ozekhome explained.
He further praised Uwais’s leadership of the Supreme Court, noting that it was a period when judicial decisions were consistent and reliable.
Beyond the courtroom, Uwais chaired the influential Presidential Committee on Electoral Reforms under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
“The committee made ground-breaking recommendations. Nigeria might have avoided today’s electoral crises had they been implemented,” Ozekhome said.
Uwais also led the Body of Benchers and served in international legal bodies, further cementing his national and global stature. Ozekhome said his passing on Eid Kabir day “is a sign that he was ready to meet his Creator. May Allah grant him Aljanah Firdaus.”
Justice Uwais, born in Zaria, Kaduna State, in 1936, served as Nigeria’s chief justice from 1995 to 2006. His career was defined by bold judicial reforms and an unwavering defence of judicial independence, leaving a mark on Nigerian legal history.