Taoheed Elias ICJ candidacy gains Nigerian government backing as Abuja seeks to restore West African presence on the UN’s top judicial bench

Taoheed Elias ICJ candidacy was formally presented by the Nigerian government on Thursday, with a compelling call for international support to restore West Africa’s voice on the International Court of Justice.

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At a high-level diplomatic briefing in Abuja, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar led the endorsement of Judge Dr Taoheed Elias, citing his distinguished service and Nigeria’s long absence from the world’s top judicial bench.

West Africa has not had a representative on the ICJ since 2011. Nigeria’s last seat at the court ended more than three decades ago.

“This long absence is not a matter of pride but of perspective,” Tuggar stated. “It underscores the need for equitable geographical representation and the return of West African voices to the ICJ.”

Presenting Elias as a candidate not only for Nigeria but for the international community, Tuggar described him as “a person of high moral character” and “a respected jurist with international credibility and legal depth.”

Taoheed Elias ICJ candidacy, he said, is grounded in both merit and purpose: “This candidacy reflects the ideals of justice, integrity and multilateralism that bind us as a global community.”

In his remarks, Elias expressed gratitude for the nomination and reflected on his career in international law, emphasising three pillars of his candidacy: academic expertise, institutional knowledge, and hands-on judicial experience.

“I have spent more than 20 years in the UN system,” he said. “These are not only subjects I’ve taught but institutions I’ve served.”

Currently a judge ad hoc at the ICJ, Elias explained the significance of the role. “When Equatorial Guinea needed a judge for a case before the court, they chose me — not a citizen of their own country, but someone they trusted to represent their interests with integrity.”

If elected on 12 November 2025, Elias would become the fourth Nigerian to serve on the ICJ, following in the footsteps of Charles Onyeama, Bola Ajibola, and his father, the late Judge Taslim Elias, a former President of the Court.

He brings to the role a formidable legal résumé, including senior positions at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the Islamic Development Bank, and the OPEC Fund for International Development.

The ICJ, based in The Hague, Netherlands, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.

It adjudicates legal disputes between states and offers advisory opinions on international legal questions.

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With the diplomatic push now in motion, Taoheed Elias ICJ candidacy is expected to galvanise regional and continental support, as Nigeria seeks to restore its influence and representation at one of the world’s most prestigious legal institutions.