The Federal Government on Thursday formally presented Judge Dr Taoheed Elias as Nigeria’s candidate for election to the International Court of Justice, calling for international support to restore West Africa’s voice on the bench of the world’s top judicial body.

The event, held in Abuja, brought together members of the diplomatic corps and senior government officials, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, led the endorsement of Dr Elias’ candidacy.

Tuggar highlighted the absence of West African representation on the ICJ since 2011 and Nigeria’s lack of presence on the court for 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,” the minister said.

Introducing the nominee, Tuggar described Elias as a distinguished jurist whose experience and integrity epitomise the standards set out in Article 2 of the ICJ Statute.

He stressed that Elias was not merely a national candidate but “a candidate for the international community.”

“Elias embodies the envisaged qualities — a person of high moral character possessing the qualifications for the highest judicial office and recognised competence in international law.

“He is a Nigerian national, a distinguished scholar, a seasoned international civil servant, and a respected judge,” the minister stated.

The minister noted that Elias’ candidacy “reflects the very ideals that unite us as members of the diplomatic community — integrity, competence, and commitment to justice.”

Addressing the diplomatic corps, Tuggar also explained the broader purpose of the nomination.

“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,” he added.

In his remarks, Elias expressed pride in being presented as Nigeria’s candidate for the ICJ and spoke of his career-long dedication to the practice and development of international law.

Highlighting the significance of the court, he said, “The ICJ is at the cornerstone of the entire architecture of the United Nations, being responsible for the peaceful resolution of disputes.”

Elias outlined three pillars of his candidacy: academic expertise in international law, deep institutional knowledge of the United Nations, and hands-on judicial experience.

“The first element of my candidacy is my academic background and intellectual expertise in international law. The second is my knowledge of the principal constituencies of the ICJ — the UN itself. The third element I want to highlight is my judicial experience.

“I have spent more than 20 years in the United Nations system as a lawyer. These are things I’ve actually lived, in addition to teaching about them.”

Currently serving as a judge ad hoc on the ICJ, Elias described the role as a significant opportunity that underscores his qualifications.

“In the International Court of Justice, when you have a case, one party has a judge of their country on the court. The other country, which does not, can appoint anyone. Equatorial Guinea didn’t pick somebody from their own country; they picked me,” he said.

Elias also acknowledged the weight of succeeding Judge Abdulqawi Yusuf of Somalia, a former president of the ICJ.

Drawing a connection between his background and the current demands of the court, Elias said, “Given the nature of the challenges that I described, I think that a wider profile, perspective, and deeper appreciation in practice are things that I hope you believe will be of value to the court.”

Elections for the ICJ are scheduled for November 12, 2025, to fill the seat vacated by Judge Yusuf.

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)