Dapo Akande Elected to International Court of Justice
Professor Dapo Akande has been elected as a judge to the International Court of Justice, restoring the United Kingdom's presence on the court after nine years.
Dapo Akande has been elected as a judge to the International Court of Justice, ending a nearly decade-long absence of a United Kingdom representative on the court. A professor of public international law and fellow at All Souls College, Oxford, Akande will serve a nine-year term.
The election marks a diplomatic victory for the UK, which lost its seat in 2017 after Sir Christopher Greenwood failed to secure re-election. The UK government campaigned for Akande, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Lord Chancellor Alex Norris citing his legal expertise and independence.
Akande, who first qualified as a lawyer in Nigeria, pledged to serve with independence and to decide cases based on a faithful and impartial application of the law. He stated he is deeply honoured to be elected to the court and expressed gratitude to the states that supported his candidacy.
