Nigerian-trained lawyer Dapo Akande elected judge of International Court of Justice

Professor Dapo Akande, a Nigerian-trained international lawyer, has been elected as a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations' top court for disputes between countries.

Akande was elected on Tuesday after separate votes by the UN General Assembly and the Security Council in New York, according to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. He ran as the United Kingdom's candidate.

The UK government said he secured the backing of a majority of UN member states in a closely contested race. PM News reported that he got 11 votes in the 15-member Security Council, above the eight needed, and was among four candidates who won the required majorities in the first round.

Akande, a Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford, will serve a nine-year term beginning February 6, 2027, at the court based in The Hague, Netherlands.

His election brings a UK judge back to the court after a nine-year absence, the UK statement said.

Why it matters for Nigeria

Akande first qualified as a lawyer in Nigeria. He earned his law degree from the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, in 1992 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1993, according to PM News.

He has nearly three decades of experience as a scholar and practitioner, advising governments across all five UN regional groups as well as bodies including the United Nations and the African Union.

Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, congratulated President Bola Tinubu on the election, calling it another boost for Nigeria's international standing. He said Nigeria's main remaining ambition at the UN is a seat on the Security Council.

ICJ judges, however, work independently and do not represent their home governments.

Akande is a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, and a member of the UN International Law Commission. He has acted as counsel, adviser or expert before the ICJ and other international tribunals.

"I pledge to serve with independence and to deciding cases on the basis of a faithful and impartial application of the law," Akande said in the UK statement.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the election showed Britain's commitment to international law, while Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband called Akande an asset to the court.

What happens next

Akande takes up his seat on the 15-member court in February 2027. The ICJ settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions on international legal questions.