In a historic move, the UK National Group has announced the nomination of British-Nigerian Professor Dapo Akande for election as a judge to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2026.
Gatekeepers News reports that His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Joanna Roper CMG, stated, “The UK is pleased to announce that Professor Dapo Akande will be nominated for election as a judge to the International Court of Justice in 2026 by the UK National Group.”
Ambassador Roper praised Professor Akande, saying, “Professor Akande is an outstanding international lawyer, who will bring deep legal expertise and experience to the ICJ. Professor Akande reflects the UK’s firm commitment to international justice, human rights, and the international rule of law.”
Professor Akande is a leading authority in international law, holding esteemed positions at the University of Oxford, including Chichele Professor of Public International Law and Fellow at All Souls College. He is also co-director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict (ELAC) and founding editor of EJIL:Talk!, the blog of the European Journal of International Law.
In 2021, Professor Akande was elected to the United Nations International Law Commission for the term 2023-2027, with an unprecedented nomination by five countries – the United Kingdom, Japan, Kenya, Slovenia, and Nigeria – representing four United Nations regional groups.
This nomination is a testament to Professor Akande’s groundbreaking achievements and his status as a respected thought leader in international law.
