Late former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais
By DAVID IORJA, Abuja-
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to the late former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais, describing him as a phenomenal jurist and statesman who served Nigeria with honor, courage, and exceptional integrity.
Justice Uwais, who passed away on Friday at 89, was remembered for his illustrious career on the bench, marked by numerous remarkable highpoints.
According to President Tinubu, Uwais “superintended the Judiciary at a challenging time in our history with tact, patience, and a sense of duty.”
This stabilizing role, the President noted, “helped usher in the current democratic dispensation, which he had the distinct honor of ushering in as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who swore in the elected president on May 29, 1999.”
President Tinubu further highlighted Uwais’s contributions to the nation’s electoral system, saying, “Given his pedigree and personal integrity, he was the right person” to head a panel investigating the conduct of elections.
“Not surprisingly, Justice Uwais led the panel to produce a critical report that contained a detailed prognosis of our electoral system,” the President added.
Tinubu prayed that “God Almighty accept the soul of Justice Uwais and admit him to Jannatul Firdaus,” while extending his heartfelt condolences to the Uwais family, the government and people of Kaduna State, and the Nigerian Judiciary.
“May God Almighty accept the soul of Justice Uwais and admit him to Jannatul Firdaus. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Uwais family, the government and the people of Kaduna State, as well as the members of the Nigerian Judiciary, over the death of this colossus,” the President said.
