Nigerian-trained lawyer Dapo Akande elected ICJ judge

Nigerian-born Professor Dapo Akande, a distinguished international lawyer and Oxford University professor, has been elected as a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This election, following a UN vote, marks his return to the court after an absence of nine years, as the UK will now have a British judge once again. The UK government praised Akande's election, highlighting his commitment to international law and global affairs.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham emphasized that this election signifies the UK's renewed role in global stability and upholding the rule of law. Akande, a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford and a member of the UN International Law Commission, expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him by UN member states. He pledged to serve with integrity, independence, and a commitment to carefully applying the law.

The ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the UN, resolves legal disputes between states and offers advisory opinions on international legal matters.