Nigerian-born international law scholar Prof. Dapo Akande has secured election to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
Akande was elected on Tuesday during concurrent voting by the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council in New York. Running as the United Kingdom’s candidate with official endorsement from the British Government, he achieved victory in the first round of voting, securing 11 votes in the 15-member Security Council (exceeding the required eight-vote threshold).
International Support and Recognition The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office welcomed the outcome, describing Akande’s election as an important milestone for international law. UK Justice Secretary Alex Norris had earlier endorsed Akande before the General Assembly, noting that “he would make a formidable contribution to [the Court’s] work.” His candidacy attracted 43 nominations from national groups across multiple UN regions.
Amb. Jimoh Ibrahim, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, commended President Bola Tinubu on the achievement. He stated that Akande’s success highlights Nigeria’s expanding diplomatic and legal footprint, even as the country continues to pursue a seat on the UN Security Council.
Background and Judicial Role
Current Position: Chichele Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford, Fellow of All Souls College, and member of the International Law Commission.
Education & Bar: LL.B. from Obafemi Awolowo University (1992); admitted as a barrister and solicitor in Nigeria (1993).
Tenure: Commences on February 6, 2027, for a nine-year term at The Hague, Netherlands.
Judicial Independence: As an ICJ judge, Akande will serve in an independent capacity rather than as a representative of any national government.
