Professor Dapo Akande, a British-Nigerian legal scholar, has been appointed as a judge to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), marking the first time in nearly a decade a UK judge will sit on the United Nations' principal judicial body. The election follows a campaign that began under Sir Keir Starmer's premiership.
Akande, a professor of public international law and a fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, will serve a term of at least nine years. He brings extensive experience as an academic and legal practitioner, having qualified as a lawyer in Nigeria and accumulating three decades of professional work.
His appointment comes after he represented Zambia at the ICJ in 2018, arguing a case concerning the Chagos Archipelago. During that proceeding, he challenged the UK's assertion that the dispute was outside the court's jurisdiction, framing it as a matter of international law obligations regarding decolonization. In the same year, Akande provided legal counsel to then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, opining that UK air strikes against the Assad regime in Syria were contrary to international law.
In light of the appointment, Andy Burnham, Deputy Political Editor, stated, "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." He added, "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."
Justice Secretary Alex Norris informed the UN that Akande's nomination by numerous countries, including Britain, underscored the respect he commands within the international legal community. Norris emphasized that Akande possesses the "independence, legal rigour, judgement and breadth of perspective that the Court needs" and would make a "formidable contribution to its work."
Akande expressed his honor at being elected, thanking the states that supported him. "I pledge to serve with independence and to deciding cases on the basis of a faithful and impartial application of the law," he said. "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."