News
Former CJN, Mohammed Lawal Uwais, Dies At 89
Nigeria’s judiciary was thrown into mourning yesterday with the news of the death of the second longest-serving Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais.
The late jurist died in Abuja yesterday.
A family member who confirmed his death said the retired jurist died in Abuja on Friday, June 6, 2025.
He has been buried in line with Islamic rites.
Born on June 12, 1936, Justice Uwais served as the Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1995 until his retirement in 2006.
After retiring from the Supreme Court, he was appointed by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to lead the Electoral Reform Committee where he played a key role in efforts to improve Nigeria’s electoral system.
He chaired a commission that published a much-publicised report on electoral reform.
Tributes
Reactions have, however, been pouring in since his demise was announced.
The Supreme Court, where he served for 27 years before his retirement on June 12, 2006, said his professional achievements and unwavering commitment to justice have had a lasting impact on Nigeria’s legal landscape.
The director of information at the Apex Court, Dr Festus Amanda, said, “During his tenure as Chief Justice, he championed judicial reforms aimed at improving the administration of justice in Nigeria.
“He was instrumental in establishing the National Judicial Council, which plays a critical role in maintaining the independence and integrity of the judiciary.
“Justice Uwais was also dedicated to advancing legal education and was a mentor to many young lawyers and judges.”
He went on to express the Supreme Court’s condolences to the family of Justice Uwais during their moment of grief.
“We honour his tireless dedication to the rule of law and the improvement of the Nigerian judiciary; values for which he will always be remembered.
“Hon. Justice Uwais’s professional achievements and unwavering commitment to justice have had a lasting impact on Nigeria’s legal landscape. He will be sorely missed by colleagues, friends, and the many lives he touched throughout his career.”
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, said she received the news with sadness but also with gratitude to Almighty God for the life of impact that he lived.
The CJN described him as a towering figure in Nigeria’s legal and judicial history, an erudite jurist, visionary reformer, and statesman whose contributions to the development of constitutional law, judicial independence, and democratic governance will forever remain etched in the annals of our national life.
“Hon. Justice Uwais distinguished himself by his unwavering commitment to justice, courage in the defence of the rule of law, and the clarity and scholarship of his judgments.
“His post-retirement service, including chairing the Electoral Reform Committee, further affirmed his deep love for country and passion for institutional integrity.
“The life and legacy of Hon. Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais will continue to inspire generations of judges, lawyers, and public servants. He was, indeed, a beacon of principle and a guardian of judicial honour,” she said.
Renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr Ahmed Raji, described him as a great jurist who delivered many landmark judgements that have stood the test of time.
“He was very civil, gentle, moderate and noble. We will miss him. May God repose his gentle soul and reward him with aljanna firdaous,” Raji said.
On his part, Attorney-General of Ondo State, Barrister Kayode Ajulo, SAN, said Justice Uwais was instrumental in Nigeria’s journey of democratic development and nation-building, serving not only as a jurist but as a visionary reformist of the country ‘s electoral process.
“His leadership as chairman of the Electoral Reform Committee, alongside esteemed members such as Bishop Mathew Kukah and Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, OON, SAN, exemplified his remarkable wisdom.
“The recommendations he presented not only established new standards but also instilled in our system a profound understanding of law and the responsibilities it entails.
“Among his most significant contributions was the call for the establishment of an independent electoral commission, a vital measure designed to enhance the integrity and transparency of Nigeria’s electoral process,” Ajulo said.
Another senior lawyer, Mr Abdul Balogun, SAN, said the former CJN was a true beacon of integrity for the judiciary, and everyone looked up to him.
According to him, he transformed Nigeria’s legal system and laid the foundation that will endure.
Career Growth
Born on June 12, 1936, in Zaria, Kaduna State, Uwais was the son of the Chief Alkali and later Waziri of Zaria emirate.
Uwais was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple, London, in 1963.
As a judicial officer, he started off early as a judge. At the age of 36, the late Justice Uwais was already on the High Court Bench, and at 41, he was already a Justice of the Court of Appeal.
As a result of his excellent performance on the Bench, he was elevated to the Supreme Court in 1979 and later served as the Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1995 to 2006, when he attained the mandatory retirement age of 70 for appellate court judges.
Altogether, he served 33 years in judicial office.
The late Justice Uwais wanted to become a judge at 45 and retire from the High Court at 65, but fate had its way, and he rose to become the country’s number one judicial officer.
Shortly after Uwais was promoted to the Supreme Court on August 15, 1979, along with the late Attorney General of the Federation, Justice Augustine Nnamani, under General Olusegun Obasanjo, then military Head of State, his first case was the popular 12 two-thirdss case between the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Alhaji Shehu Shagari.
He was invited by the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Atanda Fatai-Williams, to join the panel that decided the appeal, which today is a cause célèbre. This was because Justice George S. Sowemimo, who later became a CJN himself, declined to be part of the panel. Sowemimo’s excuse was that he had convicted Awolowo in the 1960s in the then Western Region.
Also in 1999 and 2003, he presided over the Presidential Election Petition Appeal to the Apex Court.
In 1999 and 2003, former President Olusegun Obasanjo was declared the winner of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Both Chief Olu Falae and former President Muhammadu Buhari, who were presidential candidates of the Alliance for Democracy and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, respectively, filed an appeal to the Supreme Court to challenge the decision of the tribunal and the Court of Appeal.
Justice Uwais presided over both appeals and dismissed them.
Post-retirement service
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 election representation to the Federal and State legislatures and the local government councils.
The report also recommended that the head of the Independent National Electoral Commission should be appointed by the judiciary rather than the President. President Umaru Yar’Adua rejected this recommendation.
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.
In March 2010, Acting President Goodluck Jonathan forwarded an unedited version of the report to the National Assembly for approval, the implication being that the recommendations should be implemented in their entirety before the 2011 national elections.
The issue of who should appoint the INEC head remained controversial. Before Jonathan resubmitted the report, the Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution had rejected the recommendation to transfer this power to the judiciary.
After the resubmission, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Mana, argued that letting the judiciary appoint the INEC chairman violated the principle of separation of powers since the judiciary was responsible for hearing cases arising from elections.
-Leadership
Entertainment
Davido breaks silence after Grammy Award loss
Five-time Grammy nominee, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has reacted after losing the Best African Music Performance category at the 68th Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles, United States.
The Afrobeats star shared a message of faith and resilience following the outcome of the ceremony, which took place on Sunday night at the Crypto.com Arena in California.
In a post on his Instagram page, Davido shared photos with his wife, Chioma, from the event and wrote, “Oluwa Dey my side,” alongside prayer and music emojis.
Hours later, he posted another set of pictures of himself and Chioma at the Grammys, reflecting on the loss in a longer caption.
“I said baby listen we lost again let’s not go ! she said ‘Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat’ we outside,” he wrote.
Chioma also reacted via her Instagram page, praising the singer, “You already know that you’re the perfect one, @davido,” she wrote, while sharing photos from the awards night.
Davido was nominated in the Best African Music Performance category at the 2026 Grammy Awards but lost to South African singer Tyla, who won with her song Push 2 Start.
Other nominees in the category included Burna Boy (Love), Ayra Starr and Wizkid (Gimme Dat), Davido (With You featuring Omah Lay), and Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin (Hope & Love).
The win marked Tyla’s second Grammy Award, following her first victory in 2024 for her hit single Water.
Speaking during the awards ceremony, the singer revealed that With You, featuring Omah Lay, almost did not make the final tracklist of his album 5IVE.
“Man, it’s so crazy because that song almost didn’t make the album. With You was not in anybody’s top five.
“And now look at it go. Every time I was performing it, my heart would just start beating like, what if I didn’t put this song?” he told OkayAfrica.
Davido also recounted how he learned about the Grammy nomination, saying the news came unexpectedly while he was in Dubai, days before his birthday.
“I was in the car, actually, checking a car, and then my phone rang. They were like, ‘Oh yeah, another nomination.’ I was like, wow. Thank God,” he said.
“With You” was released in April 2025 as the 17th track on Davido’s fifth studio album, 5IVE, and has since become one of his most successful recent records, surpassing 100 million streams on Spotify.
Despite the song’s success, Nigeria did not record a win at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
Davido said he is now focused on touring and releasing new music.
He is also billed to perform at Coachella 2026, where he will be the only Nigerian artiste on the festival lineup, performing on April 11 and April 18, 2026, in Indio, California.
-Guardian
Entertainment
Kunle Afolayan gives reasons to marry many women
Nollywood filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, has stirred reactions after advising men to “marry many women” while reflecting on his upbringing in a polygamous home.
The actor and producer made the remarks at the watch party of Aníkúlápó: The Ghoul Awakens, with a clip from the event going viral on Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, Afolayan linked his existence and achievements to his late father’s decision to marry several wives.
“Without my father, there wouldn’t have been a KAP Village or even Kunle Afolayan. I am the seventh born of my father because my father had ten wives. For the men, marry many women, or rather be involved with many women. You know why? If my father didn’t, he would not have born me, and that is the honest truth. But today, a few of us are lifting his legacy. Life is short, death is constant. Nobody has life forever. Everybody has a period. Use your period,” he said.
While his daughter, Eyiyemi Afolayan, joined him on stage, the filmmaker compared his childhood experience with his relationship with his children.
“They are lucky. For her, staying by my side is luck. Do you know why? I couldn’t stand it with my father. My father didn’t know my school. My father didn’t know my date of birth. He did not know anything about me other than, ‘He is the son of that person.’ But today, I’m so proud of my father,” he added.
Afolayan also spoke about fatherhood.
“Sometimes when people say ‘Happy Father’s Day,’ I’m always saying whether he pays child support or not, he’s still a father. I have been going to court because I want to get a divorce. I don’t mind being in the witness box, and I experienced the shit, so that I can marry many wives,” he said.
He thereafter prayed for his daughter, praising her role in the series.
“Hephzibah, her mother is the one who gave her the name. I don’t care, but I am proud of you. You started with the film, you did the first season, and now with the second season, you did amazingly well. My good Lord will continue to increase you in wisdom, in knowledge, and in understanding. If this is your path, the good Lord will see you through.”
However, this is not the first time the filmmaker has spoken about his late father’s polygamous lifestyle.
In March 2021, Afolayan told BBC Pidgin that his father, Adeyemi Afolayan, who died in 1996, married 10 wives and had 25 children, a decision he said took a toll on the family.
“I would not want to marry many wives because my father had 10 wives and I knew what happened throughout that period. I knew that really distracted my father. In this age, nobody needs to tell you before you know what’s right,” he said at the time.
He also disclosed that growing up in a polygamous home affected bonding among the children due to language and other barriers.
Afolayan further narrated how he battled poverty in his early years, revealing that he once lived in a one-room apartment in Ebute-Metta and sometimes had to deal with flooding.
“I was born in Ebute-Metta and have lived in one-room apartment before that we even have to grapple with flood sometimes. It’s not shame to say have been poor before. But if you see how l made it, it’s a matter of consistency. My father was a very popular filmmaker and ordinarily, people would expect me to life the kind of live akin to Hollywood stars,” he said.
“But that wasn’t the case. How would one live such life when you’re living in a room with ten women. That doesn’t mean there was no love among us.”
He had advised young filmmakers to start with the little resources available to them while working towards their dreams.
-Guardian
Article
Court adjourns Ganduje’s corruption trial to April 15
A Kano State High Court has adjourned until April 15 the trial of former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Umar, and son, Abdullahi Umar, alongside five other defendants, over alleged misappropriation of public funds amounting to billions of naira.
The defendants are facing an 11-count charge bordering on bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds. The remaining accused persons are Abubakar Bawuro, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lasage General Enterprises Ltd.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution told the court it was ready to proceed and drew attention to a motion dated November 24, 2025, seeking leave to file additional proof of evidence.
However, defence lawyers raised objections, informing the court that multiple applications were pending and must be resolved before the trial could continue.
Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, counsel to some of the defendants, said the defence had filed a motion dated July 17, 2025, seeking a stay of proceedings.
Adekunle Taiye-Falola, representing the third and seventh defendants, also referred to a separate motion dated May 23, 2025.
In addition, Muhammad Shehu, counsel to the fifth defendant, told the court that an affidavit had been filed notifying it of a pending application for stay of proceedings before the Court of Appeal.
Abubakar Ahmad, counsel to the sixth defendant, informed the court that he had filed a notice of preliminary objection and an application for extension of time to respond on points of law dated February 2, urging the court to fix a date for hearing.
Only Faruk Asekome, counsel to the eighth defendant, indicated readiness to proceed with the trial.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the presiding judge, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, adjourned the matter to April 15 for the hearing of all pending applications and preliminary objections.
The trial has suffered repeated delays due to legal challenges. The high court had earlier dismissed preliminary objections raised by the defence as “incompetent” and affirmed its jurisdiction to hear the case.
That ruling was appealed by the defendants, who argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction. However, in October 2025, the Kano Division of the Court of Appeal struck out the appeal, citing failure to properly transmit the record of appeal.
-Guardian
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