The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally presented Dr. Taoheed Elias as its candidate for election to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), aiming to restore West Africa’s representation on the bench of the world’s highest judicial body.
The announcement was made in Abuja by Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who led senior government officials and members of the diplomatic corps in endorsing Elias’s candidacy ahead of the ICJ elections scheduled for November 12, 2025.
Ambassador Tuggar noted that no West African judge has served on the ICJ bench since 2011 and that Nigeria’s absence spans more than three decades.
“This long absence is not a matter of pride but of perspective. It underscores the importance of equitable geographical representation and the need for voices from West Africa to again be heard within the world’s highest judicial body,” he said.
Describing Dr. Elias as a jurist of exceptional distinction and integrity, Tuggar stated that the nominee represents not just Nigeria, but the international community.
“Elias embodies the envisaged qualities of a person of high moral character, possessing the qualifications for the highest judicial office and recognised competence in international law,” the minister said.
He emphasized that the nomination reflects Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring Africa, particularly West Africa, retains its rightful place in shaping global jurisprudence.
“This candidacy is not about Nigeria alone. It is about ensuring that Africa, and West Africa in particular, retains its rightful presence in shaping the global rule of law,” Tuggar declared.
In his remarks, Dr. Elias expressed gratitude for the government’s confidence in him and reaffirmed his dedication to upholding the principles of international justice.
“The ICJ is at the cornerstone of the entire architecture of the United Nations, being responsible for the peaceful resolution of disputes,” he said.
Outlining the three pillars of his candidacy—academic expertise, institutional understanding of the UN system, and judicial experience—Elias noted that his over 20 years within the UN system had given him deep practical insight into global governance.
He highlighted his current role as Judge ad hoc at the ICJ, where he was appointed by Equatorial Guinea over its own national, describing the appointment as a testament to his global credibility.
“Equatorial Guinea didn’t pick somebody from their own country; they picked me,” he said.
Elias also paid tribute to Judge Abdulqawi Yusuf of Somalia, whose seat he seeks to fill, acknowledging the high standard of excellence set by his predecessor.
If elected, Dr. Taoheed Elias will become the fourth Nigerian to serve on the ICJ, following Charles Onyeama, Bola Ajibola, and his father, Taslim Olawale Elias, a former ICJ President and one of Africa’s foremost legal minds.
A member of the Institut de Droit International, Dr. Elias has held several high-level international positions, including Legal Adviser and Director at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague. He currently serves as President of the Administrative Tribunal of the OPEC Fund for International Development, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank Administrative Tribunal, and former President of the OPEC Appeals Committee.