Justice Chile Eboe-Osuji, a renowned Nigerian jurist and former President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), has been sworn in as a judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). The ceremony took place Tuesday at the President’s House in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, where President Christine Kangaloo administered the oath.
President Kangaloo hailed Eboe-Osuji as “a brilliant legal mind and a gifted jurist,” emphasizing that his appointment aligns with the CCJ’s values of integrity, excellence, and justice. “Justice Eboe-Osuji and the CCJ are a perfect match,” she said, quoting the Psalmist: “Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
She commended the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission for selecting Eboe-Osuji, expressing confidence in his ability to uphold and advance the legacy of his predecessor, Justice Andrew Burgess.
Justice Eboe-Osuji brings decades of international legal experience to the role. From 2018 to 2021, he served as President of the ICC, and earlier held senior positions at the United Nations, including Legal Advisor to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. He also played key roles in high-profile international cases, including the prosecution of Charles Taylor and work at the tribunals for Rwanda.
His legal career spans Nigeria and Canada, where he practiced before trial and appellate courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada. He has also taught international criminal law and published scholarly works in the field.
Eboe-Osuji holds a PhD from the University of Amsterdam, an LLM from McGill University, and an LLB from the University of Calabar. He is called to the bar in Nigeria, Ontario, and British Columbia. His mentors include Chief Mike Ahamba SAN, David W. Scott QC, and Dr. Christopher Harvey QC.
President Kangaloo concluded the ceremony by wishing him success in his new role, saying, “May you continue to blaze a trail of excellence from the bench you now join.”
