Reps endorse Nigerian-born UK candidate for ICJ seat
The House of Representatives has endorsed the candidacy of Nigerian-born international law scholar, Dapo Akande, for election to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the 2027–2036 term.
The endorsement was declared on Wednesday by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu during a courtesy visit by Akande and officials of the British High Commission to the National Assembly in Abuja.
Kalu said the House was fully in support of Akande’s candidacy, describing it as a reflection of Nigeria’s legal and diplomatic relevance on the global stage.
“As Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is my honour to receive Professor Akande and to say clearly, as a Nigerian and as a parliamentarian, that his candidacy for the International Court of Justice for the term 2027 to 2036 is one that commands the admiration and personal support of this House,” he said.
He described Akande’s nomination by the United Kingdom as a meaningful recognition of shared legal traditions and growing international cooperation.
“The nomination of a Nigerian-born scholar to the world’s highest judicial bench is not symbolic. It is structural recognition of a shared legal destiny,” Kalu said.
The deputy speaker also emphasised the importance of African representation at the ICJ, saying justice must include global balance and inclusivity.
“Africa’s presence on the world’s highest bench is not a matter of sentiment. It is a matter of justice. And in this House, we have always believed that justice delayed is not merely a legal failure. It is a moral one,” he added.
