KEY POINTS
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Nigerian-British law professor Dapo Akande has been elected to the International Court of Justice for a nine-year term.
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His election restores Britain’s representation on the 15-member court after nearly a decade.
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Akande pledges independent and impartial service, bringing extensive experience advising governments and international organisations.
Nigerian-British legal scholar Professor Dapo Akande has been elected as a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), securing a nine-year position on the United Nations’ principal judicial body.
Akande’s election will restore Britain’s representation on the 15-member court nearly a decade after the country’s previous representative, Christopher Greenwood, failed to secure re-election in 2017.
The International Court of Justice, based in The Hague, Netherlands, is responsible for resolving legal disputes between countries and issuing advisory opinions on questions of international law. Its decisions and opinions play an important role in interpreting international legal obligations and addressing disputes between states.
Akande, who is a Nigerian-trained lawyer, brings extensive academic and professional experience in international law to the position.
Academic and Legal Career
Akande is the Chichele Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford, a fellow of All Souls College and co-director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict.
He also practises as a barrister at Essex Court Chambers and serves as a member of the United Nations International Law Commission, an expert body responsible for promoting the development and codification of international law.
Over the years, he has advised several governments and international organisations, including the United Nations, African Union Commission, Commonwealth Secretariat and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
His professional experience also includes serving as counsel, adviser and legal expert in proceedings before major international judicial institutions.
These include the International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court, International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and European Court of Human Rights.
His experience across academic research, international legal practice and advisory assignments has placed him at the centre of several important discussions on international law.
Akande Pledges Independence and Impartiality
Reacting to his election, Akande expressed appreciation to the countries that supported his candidacy, describing the appointment as an honour.
He pledged to discharge his responsibilities independently and ensure that cases are determined through a fair and impartial application of international law.
The professor also expressed his readiness to work with other members of the court to advance its responsibility of resolving international disputes through peaceful means.
His appointment comes as the ICJ continues to attract international attention over its handling of major disputes involving states and its advisory opinions on their obligations under international law.
In recent years, the court has been particularly prominent in proceedings concerning Israel’s responsibilities under international law in the occupied Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip.
UK Government Welcomes Election
Britain’s Lord Chancellor, Alex Norris, had actively supported Akande’s candidacy, describing him as a strong candidate for the international judicial position.
Norris said Akande’s independence, legal expertise, sound judgment and broad understanding of international affairs would contribute to the court’s work at a time when international law faces increasing pressure.
He also reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to the ICJ, noting that Britain had accepted the court’s compulsory jurisdiction.
Norris encouraged other countries that had not accepted the court’s compulsory jurisdiction to consider doing so in accordance with the ICJ Statute.
Akande’s election marks an important development for Britain’s representation on the court while bringing a Nigerian-trained legal scholar with extensive international experience into one of the world’s most prominent judicial institutions.
