Professor Dapo Akande, a Nigerian-trained international law scholar, has been elected as a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), marking a significant achievement for his career in international law.

Akande was elected on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, following a United Nations vote involving the General Assembly and Security Council.

He will serve a nine-year term on the 15-member court, which is responsible for resolving legal disputes between countries and providing advisory opinions on international legal matters.

Akande is a Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of All Souls College. He is also a member of the United Nations International Law Commission.

Although he is representing the United Kingdom on the court, Akande received his initial legal training in Nigeria, where he qualified as a lawyer in 1993.

His election restores the United Kingdom’s representation on the International Court of Justice after nearly nine years without a British judge.

According to the University of Oxford, Akande emerged through an absolute majority in the first round of voting.

He is expected to take up his position at the court in The Hague on February 6, 2027.

The development highlights the international recognition of his extensive experience in legal scholarship and international dispute resolution.

About the International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It handles legal disputes submitted by countries and provides advisory opinions on questions of international law.

Akande’s election represents another major milestone in his distinguished career as an international legal scholar.

Source: University of Oxford, UK Foreign Office and TheCable.