The Federal Government yesterday presented Dr Taoheed Olufemi Elias, as the country’s candidate ahead of next month’s election into the United Nations’ principal judicial organ, the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, at the unveiling, described the nomination as a defining moment for Nigeria, Africa and the global rule of law.
Noting that Elias is a jurist of learning, integrity and vision, the minister further described him as a man, whose scholarship and service reflected Africa’s enduring contribution to international law.
According to him, Elias’ nomination represented not just Nigeria but the entire Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has never had representation at the ICJ since the tenure of Judge Abdul Koroma of Sierra Leone, who completed his term in 2011.
He said the announcement, therefore, marked Nigeria’s strongest diplomatic bid in over three decades to reclaim a seat on the ICJ bench, a position the country last occupied through the late Justice Bola Ajibola, who served until 1994.
“This long silence must end. The ICJ must reflect equitable geographical representation. Africa’s voice must once again help shape the conscience of the international legal order,” Tuggar stated.
He added that Elias’ candidacy reaffirmed Nigeria’s long-standing belief that law rather than power, should govern relations among nations. He consequently solicited the support of the diplomatic community towards Nigeria’s nominee at both the UN General Assembly and Security Council elections, stressing that support for Elias is support for justice, diversity and global fairness.
Elias is an internationally acclaimed jurist with over 30 years’ experience in global legal and diplomatic fields. Currently serving as an ad hoc judge at the ICJ, Elias has a towering résumé, which includes senior roles at the United Nations, World Bank Administrative Tribunal and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). He also presides over the administrative tribunals for the OPEC Fund (Vienna) and the Islamic Development Bank (Jeddah).
He also teaches International Law at Queen Mary University, London, and has been a trusted legal adviser to several governments and international organisations.
Commending President Bola Tinubu for championing merit-based diplomacy, others at the forum described the nomination as a reflection of the government’s drive to project Nigeria’s excellence internationally.
