Professor Dapo Akande, a Nigerian-trained international lawyer and academic at the University of Oxford, has been elected as a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
Akande emerged victorious following a United Nations General Assembly and Security Council election held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. He will serve a nine-year term beginning February 6, 2027.
His election marks the return of a United Kingdom judge to the world court after a nine-year absence.
Originally trained as a lawyer in Nigeria, Akande is the Chichele Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford, a Fellow of All Souls College and a member of the United Nations International Law Commission.
He also serves as a barrister at Essex Court Chambers and has nearly three decades of experience in international law, legal research and dispute resolution.
Throughout his career, Akande has provided legal advice and represented governments and international organisations, including the United Nations and the African Union, in proceedings before international courts and tribunals.
His areas of expertise include international humanitarian law, armed conflict, international criminal law, cyber operations and the legal framework governing international organisations.
He studied at Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria before pursuing further academic studies at the London School of Economics and the University of Oxford.
Reacting to his election, Akande expressed gratitude to the UN member states that supported his candidacy and pledged to serve independently and impartially.
He also promised to contribute to the court’s responsibility of resolving disputes between countries through peaceful legal means.
The International Court of Justice, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, handles legal disputes submitted by states and provides advisory opinions on international legal questions referred to it by authorised United Nations bodies.
Akande’s election represents a significant international legal achievement for a lawyer whose professional training began in Nigeria.
