Nigeria creates election tribunal ahead of April elections News
Nigeria creates election tribunal ahead of April elections

[JURIST] Nigerian officials announced Tuesday the creation of an election tribunal to preside over disputes and complaints arising from the nation's general elections to be held in April 2007 [BBC report]. As Idris Kutigi, chief justice of the Nigerian Supreme Court [official website] swore in judges to serve on the tribunal, he warned them against taking bribes from politicians to influence their rulings. Governorship and state assembly elections in Nigeria [JURIST news archive] will be held on April 14; the presidential and national assembly elections will be held a week later on April 21. AFP has more.

In early February, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [official website] of Nigeria released an advisory list [press release] of 135 Nigerian politicians considered to be too corrupt to hold office [JURIST report], including Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar [official website], who has left the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) [BBC backgrounder] to run for the presidential ticket. Abubakar, however, is now being investigated on corruption charges [JURIST report]. If convicted, he would be precluded from running for the Nigerian presidency. A failed attempt [JURIST report] by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo [official profile] to amend the constitution to run for a third term could mean a smooth election and a peaceful, democratic handover of power for the first time in Nigeria since independence in 1960.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.