Mohammed Uwais
Mohammed Lawal Uwais | |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of Nigeria | |
| In office 1995 – 12 June 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Mohammed Bello |
| Succeeded by | Salihu Moddibo Alfa Belgore |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 June 1936 Zaria, Northern Region, Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria (now Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria) |
| Died | 6 June 2025 (aged 88) |
Mohammed Lawal Uwais GCON (12 June 1936 – 6 June 2025)[1] was a Nigerian jurist who served as the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria from 1995 to 2006. He chaired a commission that published a much-publicized report on electoral reform.[2][3]
Uwais was the son of the Chief Alkali, and later Waziri of Zaria emirate.[4]
Electoral reform report
[edit]
After retiring from the Supreme Court, Uwais chaired a panel on electoral reform that submitted a report on 11 December 2008 with recommendations that included establishing commissions to deal with Electoral Offences, Constituency Delimitation and Political Parties Registration and Regulation. Some of the power vested in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the State Independent Electoral Commissions would be transferred to the new commissions. The committee recommended proportional representation in elections to the Federal and State legislatures and to the local government councils.[5] The report also recommended that the head of the Independent National Electoral Commission should be appointed by the judiciary rather than the President. This recommendation was rejected by President Umaru Yar'Adua.[6]
Yar'Adua forwarded a modified version of the Uwais report to the legislature in 2009, drawing considerable criticism since many felt that recent elections had been deeply flawed and that basic reforms were required.[7] In March 2010, Acting President Goodluck Jonathan forwarded an unedited version of the report to the National Assembly for approval, by implication, saying that the recommendations should be implemented in their entirety before the 2011 national elections.[8] The issue of power to appoint the INEC head remained controversial. Before Jonathan had resubmitted the report, the Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution had rejected the recommendation to transfer this power to the judiciary.[9] After the resubmission, deputy chief whip of the Senate, Mohammed Mana, argued that letting judiciary appoint the INEC chairman violated the principle of separation of powers, since the judiciary was responsible for hearing the cases arising from elections.[10]
Personal life
[edit]Uwais was born on 12 June 1936, in Zaria, Kaduna State.[11] He died on 6 June 2025, at the age of 88.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Hon. Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais, GCON". Federal Judicial Service Commission.
- ^ "Revisiting Justice Uwais's Electoral Reform Report – CLEEN Foundation". 24 May 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ Iniobong, Iwok (27 November 2023). "Everything about electoral reform is in Uwais report, problem is implementation - Odion Akhaine". Businessday NG. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ Prof. John N. Paden (27 October 2007). "The Sokoto Caliphate and its Legacies (1804–2004)". Dawodu. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Daniel Idonor (12 December 2008). "Electoral Reform – UWAIS Panel Recommends Independent Candidates". Daily Champion. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ "Nigeria election reform 'U-turn'". BBC News. 12 March 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ HOPE AFOKE ORIVRI (24 March 2009). "Electoral reform: Doctoring of Uwais report unacceptable". Nigerian Compass.
- ^ "Electoral Reform – Can Jonathan Make Any Difference?". ThisDay. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Emmanuel Aziken (1 March 2010). "Senators disagree over Uwais panel's report on INEC chair's job". Vanguard. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Stanley Yakubu (29 March 2009). "National Assembly Will Decide Who Becomes INEC Chairman – Mana". Leadership.
- ^ "Mohammed Uwais at 85: A remarkable bench career". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Tsohon Alkalin Alkalan Najeriya, Lawal Uwais ya rasu". Media Trust Limited. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
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