Nigeria’s nominee for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, Dr. Olufemi Elias
Nigeria’s nominee for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, Dr. Olufemi Elias, has said he stands out as the most qualified candidate for the position, citing his rare blend of academic, diplomatic, and judicial experience.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York, Elias expressed confidence that his credentials and extensive international career make him uniquely suited for the role.
> “My profile ticks all the boxes,” he said. “I started as an academic, spent 20 years at the UN and rose to the level of Assistant Secretary-General. Right now, I serve in various judicial capacities, including as Judge Ad Hoc of the ICJ itself.”
The upcoming election will fill the vacancy created by the departure of Judge Abulqawi Yusuf, whose term expires in February 2027.
Elias noted that while many of his fellow contenders are accomplished professors of international law, his experience extends beyond academia.
> “My distinguished competitors are professors of international law, and they have that academic heft — but so do I,” he said. “What sets my candidature apart is my understanding of how the multilateral system works and my actual judicial experience. Those two things make a big difference.”
He added with a smile, “Like I joke, I’m already made replacement for that.”
The race for the ICJ seat features Dr. Olufemi Elias, Prof. Charles Jalloh, and Prof. Phoebe Okowa, with elections expected to be held simultaneously in the UN General Assembly and the Security Council.
The Nigerian government has been actively lobbying for Elias, hosting several diplomatic engagements to promote his candidacy and strengthen Nigeria’s chances of returning to the world court.
*A Distinguished International Career*
Elias currently serves as Judge Ad Hoc at the ICJ and is a full member of the Institut de Droit International, an exclusive body of eminent international law scholars. Over the years, he has held several high-ranking positions within the United Nations and other global institutions.
He previously served as a UN Assistant Secretary-General and Legal Adviser and Director at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague.
Elias also holds leadership roles as President of the Administrative Tribunal of the OPEC Fund for International Development and Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank Administrative Tribunal. He is a former President and member of the Appeals Committee of OPEC.
In 2015, he was elected a member of the Institut de Droit International, becoming only the second Nigerian to achieve the honour since the organisation’s founding in 1873.
Three years later, in 2018, he received honorary life membership from the American Society of International Law, one of the most prestigious recognitions in the field, for his contributions to international law.
Elias’s résumé also includes service as Head of the UN’s International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Judge for Staff Appeals at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, and Executive Secretary of the World Bank Administrative Tribunal in Washington, D.C.
He has also been Legal Adviser at the UN Compensation Commission, and he currently lectures as a visiting professor of international law at Queen Mary University of London and the University of Buckingham.
*A Legacy of Legal Excellence*
Dr. Elias follows in the distinguished footsteps of his late father, Taslim Olawale Elias, one of Nigeria’s most revered jurists. The elder Elias, who helped draft Nigeria’s first constitution, was Chief Justice and Attorney-General of Nigeria, and later became President of the ICJ—the first African ever to hold that position.
If successful, Olufemi Elias will become the fourth Nigerian to serve on the ICJ bench, joining Charles Onyeama, Bola Ajibola, and his father, Taslim Elias. Nigeria last occupied a seat at the World Court in 1994.
> “I see this as an opportunity not only to continue a family legacy of service but to represent Nigeria and Africa with distinction,” Elias said.
The International Court of Justice, established in 1945, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, responsible for settling legal disputes between states and offering advisory opinions on international legal questions.
(NAN)
