A family source confirmed that the retired jurist passed away on Friday in Abuja.

The source said arrangements are in top gear for his funeral prayer and burial.

Justice Uwais, who was born on June 12, 1936, served as CJN from 1995 until his retirement in 2006.

Following his time on the bench, he was appointed by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to head the electoral reform committee, which submitted far-reaching recommendations for overhauling Nigeria’s electoral system in 2008.