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A Nigerian judge has been elected as President of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Imo-state born Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, the first Nigerian to be elected as President of ICC, was elected during a plenary session by the judges. His term as President of the court will be for three years and takes immediate.

Judge Robert Fremr (Czech Republic) was elected First Vice-President and Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut (France) Second Vice-President.

The International Criminal Court through a statement posted on its website made the announcement on Sunday. The statement stated that Eboe-Osuji expressed deep appreciation for his election to the honourable position.

"I am deeply honoured to have been elected by my peers as President of the International Criminal Court. As I take up my duties, I feel encouraged that I am able to rely on the wide experience of the two Vice-Presidents, Judge Robert Fremr and Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, both of whom I have closely worked with previously.

"I look forward to working together with them as well as with all the judges, all the officials and the staff of the Court in a spirit of collegiality.

"I also look forward to collaborating with the Assembly of States Parties, civil society and the international community at large, acting together to strengthen and reinforce the Rome Statute system, the 20th anniversary of the adoption of which we celebrate this year", President Chile Eboe-Osuji stated following the election," Eboe-Osuji said.

Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama has congratulated Eboe-Osuji in a tweet using his official Twitter handle.