[JURIST] Nigerian lawyers have begun a two-day boycott of the country's courts in protest at what they say is "failure of the government to comply with court orders and the violation of human rights." Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) [profession website] President Lanke Odogiyon says that disregard for the rule of law in Nigeria [JURIST news archive] is reminiscent of the country's military dictatorship and that the NBA wants to demonstrate the effects of a legal system that ceases to function. As next year's general elections approach, the NBA wants to be sure the government will respect court judgments, as Nigerian political battles often end up in the court system.

The Nigerian government has also been reticent in following international legal directives. Thusfar it has rejected UN demands [JURIST report, Reuters article] for the extradition of former Liberian president Charles Taylor [PBS profile] whom the Special Tribunal for Sierra Leone [official website] has indicted for war crimes. BBC News has more.