-
Tinubu Nominates Olufemi Elias for ICJ Seat.
-
The UN vote will fill the seat vacated by Somali judge Abdulqawi Ahmed.
-
Minister Tuggar says Elias’s election will advance global justice
The Federal Government has endorsed Nigerian legal expert Olufemi Elias for a seat on the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
EDITOR’S PICKS
- Lagos PDP Inaugurates Screening Committee Ahead of State Congress
- North Needs Unity Not Infrastructure – APC Chieftain
- INEC Rejects ADC’s David Mark-Led Caretaker Committee
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the election, scheduled for November 12 in New York, will take place during a joint session of the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. The vote will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Somali judge Abdulqawi Ahmed, effective September 30.
The ICJ, the UN’s principal judicial organ, comprises 15 judges serving nine-year terms, with one-third of the seats contested every three years to ensure continuity.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, announced the nomination in a video statement, praising Elias’s distinguished record in international law. He described him as “one of the most respected figures in the field, with decades of service, a commitment to justice, equity, and the rule of law, and contributions that align with the principles of the UN Charter.”
Tuggar stressed that Elias’s blend of judicial experience, academic achievement, and senior roles in international civil service make him uniquely qualified for the role. He appealed to the international community for support, expressing confidence that Elias’s election would promote global justice and peaceful dispute resolution.
Elias currently serves as an ad hoc judge at the ICJ. His father, Taslim Elias, also served on the court from 1976 to 1991, holding positions as vice-president (1979–1982) and president (1982–1985).
