Yoruba Professor, Dapo Akande becomes UK’s World Court nominee

By Samuel Ogunsona

After ten years without a British judge at the International Court of Justice, the United Kingdom is returning to the bench and it is doing so with a Yoruba- born scholar.

A professor of public i
International Law and Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford Professor Dapo Akande,
has been elected to the ICJ, the United Nations’ highest court for disputes between states.

Akande, who originally qualified as a lawyer in Nigeria, brings nearly 30 years of experience to the role. He is an elected member of the UN International Law Commission and has served as counsel, adviser and expert in cases before international courts and tribunals, including the ICJ itself.

He will serve for nine years at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, where the 15-member court sits. It is the only principal organ of the UN not based in New York.

The UK had not held a seat since 2017, when Sir Christopher Greenwood lost his re-election bid.

Reacting to the election, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “This election is a clear signal to our partners that the UK is back on the world stage and ready to play our part in ensuring global stability and upholding the rule of law. Professor Akande will bring integrity, legal rigour and independent expertise to the International Court of Justice and I am incredibly proud that he is representing the UK.”

Akande himself said: “I am incredibly grateful to all the states that have put their faith in me. I pledge to serve with independence and to decide cases on the basis of a faithful and impartial application of the law. I look forward to contributing to the ICJ’s vital work in helping to resolve disputes by peaceful means, alongside the other colleagues elected today.”

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Everywhere I go around the world, people tell me how impressive Professor Akande is and we have been proud to support his campaign. I am confident that his legal expertise, independence and commitment to international law will make him an asset to the court and the international community.”

He added: “This is a victory for the UK’s commitment to the rule of law and our ability to stand up for our values on the world stage.”

Akande was elected alongside François Alabrune from France, Mahmoud Daifallah Hmoud from Jordan, Rena Lee from Singapore and Phoebe Okowa from Kenya, in an election where five seats were contested.

Judges are elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council.