
The Federal Government has nominated Dr Taoheed Elias as the country’s candidate for election to the International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, through a statement posted on the social media platform X.
“On behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I am honoured to announce the nomination of Dr. Taoheed Elias as Nigeria’s candidate for election to the International Court of Justice @CIJ_ICJ,” Tuggar stated.
The minister praised Elias as one of the most respected figures in international law, citing his “distinguished record of legal scholarship, decades of service to the global community, and dedication to the principles of justice, equity, and the rule of law.”
“His contributions embody the ideals upon which the ICJ was founded and the values enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,” Tuggar added.
“This nomination reflects Nigeria’s steadfast belief in a rules-based international order, one in which justice is impartial, peace is safeguarded, and all nations, regardless of size or power, have an equal voice in shaping a fairer and more secure future for humanity,” the statement continued.
The government urged the international community to support the nomination, stating confidence that Elias’s election would “strengthen the cause of global justice and advance the peaceful settlement of disputes among nations.”
If successful, Elias would become the fourth Nigerian to serve on the ICJ, following in the footsteps of Charles Onyeama, Bola Ajibola, and his father, Taslim Elias.
He is a member of the Institut de Droit International and has served as legal adviser and director at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague.
He is also the current president of the administrative tribunal of the OPEC Fund for International Development, chairman of the Islamic Development Bank administrative tribunal, and a former president and member of the OPEC appeals committee.
The ICJ, commonly regarded as the highest court for resolving disputes between sovereign states, was established in 1945.
It serves as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and is based in The Hague, Netherlands. (Punch)