Nigerian-born Dapo Akande, a professor of public
international law at the University of Oxford, has been nominated as the UK and
Nigeria’s candidate for the International Law Commission (ILC).
The ILC was established by the UN general assembly in 1947
to undertake its mandate. It is a body of experts responsible for helping
develop and codify international law.
The nomination of Akande makes him the first-ever candidate
to be put up by both the UK and Nigeria governments. If elected, Akande will
serve as a member of ILC for a five-year term.
In a statement, Dominic Raab, UK foreign secretary, noted
Akande’s professional accomplishments and described him as the best candidate
for the role.
“The United Kingdom is pleased to nominate Professor Dapo
Akande as our candidate for the International Law Commission for the period
2023 to 2027,” Raab said.
“The UK has always been a strong supporter of the
International Law Commission and is proud of the contribution that British
international lawyers have made to its work. I believe that Professor Akande is
perfectly positioned to strengthen this contribution yet further.”
Catriona Laing, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, also
said: “I am delighted that the UK Government and the Government of Nigeria will
be co-nominating Professor Dapo Akande for the International Law Commission
election in November 2021.
“This joint support
by both our countries for an eminently qualified legal scholar reflects the
strong people-to-people ties between the UK and Nigeria. It also demonstrates
our support to UK leadership in important international institutions, and to
advancing the rule of law across the globe.”
WHO IS AKANDE?
Raised in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, Akande received his LLB
at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Akande is a world-renowned expert in public international
law with more than 25 years of legal experience.
He began his legal career as a research assistant to Bola
Ajibola (KBE SAN), a former attorney-general of Nigeria.
He has also worked as a counsel on international litigation
before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), International Tribunal for the
Law of the Sea (ITLOS), World Trade Organization (WTO), International Criminal
Court (ICC), and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
Akande has served as a consultant to several international
organisations, including the ICC, UN, the African Union (AU), the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
“The warm endorsement of Professor Akande’s candidacy by
both the United Kingdom and Nigeria demonstrates the high value they place on
the professor’s experience, expertise and commitment to upholding the highest
standards in international law. It also demonstrates our shared confidence that
he will bring those high standards to the ILC,” the UK government said.
“During his career,
Professor Akande has demonstrated a strong and longstanding commitment to
promoting the highest standards in international law and also to strengthening
the Nigerian legal system.
“He has represented Nigeria before the International Court
of Justice, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and at Arbitral
Tribunals.
“He also provided training to the Federal Director of Public
Prosecution and the Nigerian Army on strengthening justice and accountability
in Nigeria and capacity building for prosecutors to address the most serious
and complex crimes under Nigerian criminal law.”
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