Professor Dapo Akande, a Nigerian-trained international lawyer and Chichele Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford, was elected as a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, securing a nine-year term on the world’s principal judicial body.

The election represents a significant milestone in Akande’s international legal career and restores British representation on the court after a nine-year absence.

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According to the United Nations General Assembly’s voting record, Akande received 129 votes, comfortably exceeding the required absolute majority of 97. A total of 191 member states participated in the ballot, with no invalid votes or abstentions recorded.

The General Assembly and the UN Security Council conducted separate voting exercises, as required under the ICJ’s governing statute. Candidates must secure an absolute majority in both bodies to be elected.

Akande emerged among the successful candidates alongside representatives from France, Jordan and Singapore in the initial round of elections. Further voting was subsequently required to fill the remaining vacancy.

His nine-year tenure will begin on February 6, 2027, according to the United Nations.

The British government welcomed the outcome, describing the election as an important return to the court for the United Kingdom, which had not held a judicial seat there for almost a decade.

The campaign received support from Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, other government ministers and British diplomatic missions.

In a statement, Burnham said the result reflected Britain’s renewed commitment to international affairs and the principles of international law.

“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,” the Prime Minister said.

He added that Akande would bring integrity, legal rigour and independent expertise to the court, describing his appointment as a source of pride for the United Kingdom.

Akande also expressed gratitude to the countries that supported his candidacy, emphasising the independence expected of members of the international judicial institution.

“I am deeply honoured to be elected to the International Court of Justice,” he said.

“I pledge to serve with independence and to deciding cases on the basis of a faithful and impartial application of the law.”

The professor added that he looked forward to contributing to the court’s work in resolving international disputes through peaceful means.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also congratulated Akande, highlighting his extensive experience in international legal practice and scholarship.

“Everywhere I go around the world, people tell me how impressive Professor Akande is and we have been proud to support his campaign,” Miliband said.

He expressed confidence that Akande’s legal expertise, independence and commitment to international law would make him an asset to the court and the wider international community.

Beyond the diplomatic significance of the appointment, Akande’s election has a notable Nigerian connection, reflecting a professional journey that began with legal training in Nigeria before developing into an internationally recognised career.

Born and raised in Nigeria, Akande obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Ife, now known as Obafemi Awolowo University, in 1992.

He subsequently qualified as a barrister and solicitor at the Nigerian Law School in 1993 before obtaining a Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics in 1994.

His academic career also included research and teaching appointments at the London School of Economics and the University of Cambridge before he joined the University of Nottingham as a lecturer in 1998.

He later taught at Durham University between 2000 and 2004 before joining the University of Oxford, where he has held several academic appointments.

Akande currently serves as the Chichele Professor of Public International Law at Oxford and is a Fellow of All Souls College. He is also a barrister at Essex Court Chambers and a co-director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict.

His professional experience extends beyond university teaching and research. Over nearly three decades, Akande has advised governments, international organisations and legal institutions on complex questions of international law.

He has also appeared as counsel, adviser and expert in proceedings before international courts and tribunals, including the ICJ, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the International Criminal Court.

Among his notable engagements was his work representing the United Kingdom in the proceedings concerning the application of the Genocide Convention in The Gambia v Myanmar.

He also represented Japan in proceedings concerning the legal consequences of Israeli policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Akande is equally involved in the development of international legal standards. Since January 2023, he has served as an elected member of the United Nations International Law Commission, an independent body responsible for promoting the codification and progressive development of international law.

His academic contributions include co-authoring Oppenheim’s International Law: The United Nations, a major publication on the legal framework governing the United Nations. The work received a Certificate of Merit from the American Society of International Law in 2019.

His professional recognition has also extended to international honours. In 2025, the Government of Japan awarded him a Foreign Minister’s Commendation, while Equatorial Guinea conferred on him the Silver Medal of the Order of National Independence. Durham University also awarded him an honorary Doctor of Civil Laws degree in the same year.

Akande’s journey towards the ICJ appointment began formally in September 2024, when the University of Oxford announced that the United Kingdom’s National Group of the Permanent Court of Arbitration would nominate him for election, with the support of the British government.

The nomination followed his growing involvement in international legal practice and his work with governments and international institutions across different regions.

His candidacy also received broad international backing, with the UK government’s election brochure stating that he had been nominated by 42 additional national groups alongside the United Kingdom’s nomination.

The International Court of Justice, based in The Hague, Netherlands, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Established under the UN Charter, the court comprises 15 judges elected independently by the General Assembly and Security Council for nine-year terms.

Its responsibilities include resolving legal disputes submitted by states and providing advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorised United Nations bodies.

Unlike the International Criminal Court, which prosecutes individuals accused of certain international crimes, the ICJ primarily deals with legal disputes between states.

Its work covers issues including territorial sovereignty, maritime boundaries, treaty interpretation, diplomatic relations and state responsibility.

The court’s composition is also intended to reflect the world’s principal legal systems and different forms of civilisation, an important consideration in the election of its members.

For Nigeria, Akande’s appointment offers a notable connection to the country’s legal education system and its contribution to international legal scholarship.

Although elected as the United Kingdom’s candidate, his Nigerian legal training remains an important part of his professional background.

His new position will place him among the judges responsible for addressing some of the most consequential legal disputes between countries, at a time when international institutions face growing demands to provide peaceful and legally grounded responses to global disagreements.

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As he prepares to assume office in February 2027, Akande has made clear that independence and impartial application of the law will guide his judicial responsibilities.