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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Federal Government has nominated Dr. Taoheed Olufemi Elias as Nigeria’s candidate for election to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations’ principal judicial body. The global election is slated for November 2025.
The nomination suggests Nigeria’s strongest diplomatic effort in more than three decades to reclaim a seat on the ICJ bench, a position last held by the late Justice Bola Ajibola, who served until 1994.
Announcing the nomination in Abuja, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, described the development as “a defining moment for Nigeria, Africa, and the global rule of law.”
He said, “Dr. Elias is a jurist of learning, integrity, and vision, a man whose scholarship and service reflect Africa’s enduring contribution to international law.”
Tuggar noted that the nomination extends beyond Nigeria’s borders, representing the entire ECOWAS subregion, which has not had a representative at the ICJ since Judge Abdul Koroma of Sierra Leone completed his term in 2011.
“This long silence must end,” Tuggar declared. “The ICJ must reflect equitable geographical representation. Africa’s voice must once again help shape the conscience of the international legal order.”
Dr. Elias, who currently serves as a Judge ad hoc at the ICJ, brings over 30 years of experience in international law, diplomacy, and arbitration. His professional background spans major global institutions, including the United Nations, the World Bank Administrative Tribunal, and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). He also presides over administrative tribunals for the OPEC Fund in Vienna and the Islamic Development Bank in Jeddah.
An acclaimed academic, Elias lectures in International Law at Queen Mary University of London and has served as legal adviser to various governments and international organisations.
“For an international lawyer like myself, this nomination is a call to serve to defend justice in a world where it is under siege,” Elias told a gathering of diplomats to resounding applause.
According to Tuggar, Elias’ candidacy reaffirms Nigeria’s enduring conviction that “law, not power, should govern relations among nations.” He urged the international community to support Nigeria’s nominee in both the UN General Assembly and Security Council elections, adding that such support would be a vote for “justice, diversity, and global fairness.”
“In endorsing Elias, you affirm not only the integrity of the court but the principles that keep our world anchored in justice,” the Minister said. “This is a defining moment for our country. Through Dr. Elias, Nigeria’s voice for justice and fairness will once again echo through the halls of The Hague.”
Outlining his vision, Dr. Elias identified three pillars guiding his candidacy: intellectual excellence, extensive international experience, and judicial competence. “This is not merely a Nigerian candidacy,” he said. “It is a reaffirmation of Africa’s legal intellect, independence, and commitment to global justice.”
He reiterated, “For an international lawyer like myself, dedicated to the rule of law, this nomination is a call to service to defend justice in a world where it is being tested on all fronts.”
Other speakers at the event commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for promoting merit-based diplomacy. Members of Nigeria’s National Group at the Permanent Court of Arbitration including Professor Paul Adonija, Professor Amelia, and Mrs. Thomas Robert hailed Elias’ nomination as one of Nigeria’s proudest diplomatic achievements in recent years.
“This government is not playing small,” a senior diplomat remarked. “Elias represents Nigeria’s strategic push to reassert its moral and legal leadership on the global stage.”
Delegates praised Dr. Elias for embodying “the very essence of fairness, transparency, and justice,” describing him as a blend of academic brilliance and practical understanding of international governance.
They also commended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its strategic coordination and lauded President Tinubu for “making Nigeria proud once again on the global stage.”
“The choice of Elias shows this government’s dedication to competence and credibility,” one delegate said. “This is not just a nomination, it’s a statement that Nigeria stands tall in the global quest for justice.”
As the November 2025 elections draw near, Nigeria’s diplomatic network from Abuja to New York is mobilising international support to secure Dr. Elias’ place on one of the world’s most prestigious judicial benches.