The Federal Government has formally nominated Dr. Taoheed Olufemi Elias as Nigeria’s candidate for election to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, announced the nomination in a statement on Tuesday via his official X account, describing Dr. Elias as “one of the most respected figures in the field of international law.”

Tuggar praised the nominee’s extensive legal scholarship, decades of service to the global community, and commitment to justice, equity, and the rule of law. “His work reflects the ideals upon which the ICJ was founded and the values enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,” the minister said.

He noted that the nomination underscores Nigeria’s support for a rules-based international order “in which justice is impartial, peace is safeguarded, and all nations, regardless of size or power, have an equal voice in shaping a fairer and more secure future for humanity.”

The minister urged the international community to back Dr. Elias’s candidacy, expressing confidence that his election would “strengthen the cause of global justice and advance the peaceful settlement of disputes among nations.”

The ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, adjudicates disputes between states and offers advisory opinions on international legal matters. Nigeria’s nomination of Dr. Elias represents a bid to secure a voice in one of the world’s foremost institutions for international law and diplomacy.