[JURIST] A senate panel in Nigeria [JURIST news archive] Tuesday indicted Vice President Atiku Abubakar [official profile] on corruption charges [JURIST report] stemming from the alleged diversion of $145 million dollars of public money to private interests, as well as allegations of receiving more than $4.6 million dollars in bribes. Abubakar has left the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) [BBC backgrounder] and is now the presidential candidate for the opposition Action Congress (AC) [Independent National Electoral Commission backgrounder]. If convicted, he will be precluded from running for the Nigerian presidency. Last week, a Nigerian appeals court ruled [JURIST report] Abubakar could not legally be stripped of his office after his break with Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo [official profile]. AFP has more.

Earlier Tuesday, Nigerian officials announced the creation of an election tribunal [JURIST report] to preside over disputes and complaints arising from the nation's upcoming general elections [BBC report] to be held in April.