Meet Dapo Akande, Nigerian-trained lawyer elected ICJ judge
AI Executive Briefing
Verified Synthesis~50s readThe Oxford professor specialises in several areas of international law, including the law of international organisations, armed conflict, international criminal law, cyber operations and international dispute settlement. Professor Dapo Akande, a Nigerian-trained lawyer who has been elected as a judge of the International Court of Justice, has built an international career spanning nearly three decades in public international law, legal scholarship and international dispute settlement.
Context & Background
- ✦He is also a member of the United Nations International Law Commission and a barrister at Essex Court Chambers.
Key Figures & Named Entities
Tuesday:Akande, who was aelected to the ICJ on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, will serve a nine-year term at the United Nations’ principal judicial organ, becoming the first UK judge to occupy a seat on the court in nine years.2020:He is also co-editor of The Oxford Guide to International Humanitarian Law (2020), Human Rights and 21st Century Challenges: Poverty, Conflict and the Environment (2020), and Practitioners Guide to the Application of Human Rights Law in Armed Conflict (2016).2024:In 2024, he was designated to the panel of arbitrators of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes by the President of the World Bank, acting as chair of the organisation’s Administrative Council.
Outlook & Next Steps
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Key Takeaways
Verified Extract- The Oxford professor specialises in several areas of international law, including the law of international organisations, armed conflict, international criminal law, cyber operations and international dispute settlement.
- Professor Dapo Akande, a Nigerian-trained lawyer who has been elected as a judge of the International Court of Justice, has built an international career spanning nearly three decades in public international law, legal scholarship and international dispute settlement.
- He is also a member of the United Nations International Law Commission and a barrister at Essex Court Chambers.
Key Facts:Tuesday: Akande, who was aelected to the ICJ on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, will serve a nine-year term at the United Nations’ principal judicial organ, becoming the first UK judge to occupy a seat on the court in nine years.2020: He is also co-editor of The Oxford Guide to International Humanitarian Law (2020), Human Rights and 21st Century Challenges: Poverty, Conflict and the Environment (2020), and Practitioners Guide to the Application of Human Rights Law in Armed Conflict (2016).2024: In 2024, he was designated to the panel of arbitrators of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes by the President of the World Bank, acting as chair of the organisation’s Administrative Council.Tuesday: “I pledge to serve with independence and to deciding cases on the basis of a faithful and impartial application of the law,” he said in a statement published by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on Tuesday.
Editorial Excerpt
Nigerian-trained lawyer and Oxford professor, Dapo Akande, has been elected as a judge of the International Court of Justice for a nine-year term.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Story
What is the key takeaway from this report?
The Oxford professor specialises in several areas of international law, including the law of international organisations, armed conflict, international criminal law, cyber operations and international dispute settlement.
What additional context is highlighted in this report?
Professor Dapo Akande, a Nigerian-trained lawyer who has been elected as a judge of the International Court of Justice, has built an international career spanning nearly three decades in public international law, legal scholarship and international dispute settlement.
What timeline or key figures were confirmed?
Akande, who was aelected to the ICJ on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, will serve a nine-year term at the United Nations’ principal judicial organ, becoming the first UK judge to occupy a seat on the court in nine years.
