Colonel Bello Fadile (rtd), Nigeria’s first military-trained lawyer with a PhD in International Law, has paid tribute to former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais, GCON, who passed away at the age of 89.
In a heartfelt statement, Fadile described the late jurist as “My Father in the Judiciary” and recalled how Justice Uwais intervened for his release during his detention in 1995 under military rule.
Fadile highlighted Justice Uwais’s unwavering integrity, quoting his powerful words: “A corrupt judge is more harmful to the society than a man who runs amok with a dagger in a crowded street.”
Fadile recounted how the former CJN risked his own safety to advocate for his freedom. “When I was arrested for an alleged coup in 1995, Justice Uwais, without fear or hesitation, acted on my request. He and Justice Karibi-Whyte raised my case with the Head of Military Government,” he said.
Fadile also shared how Justice Uwais personally visited him upon his release in 1999, bringing clothes, money, and support. “He was truly my father in the judiciary,” Fadile said.
He urged the Nigerian judiciary to uphold the principles of humility, integrity, and fear of God, which Justice Uwais embodied. Fadile described the late jurist’s life as a legacy that will inspire generations to come.
