Nigeria court rules president not required to transfer power to VP News
Nigeria court rules president not required to transfer power to VP

[JURIST] A Nigerian court ruled Friday that ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua [BBC profile] is not required to formally transfer his powers to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan [Online Nigeria profile] or any other interim leader. The Federal High Court in Abuja rejected [BBC report] a lawsuit brought by the Nigerian Bar Association [official website], seeking to have presidential powers temporary endowed in Jonathan pursuant to Article 145 of Nigeria's Constitution [text]. Last week, the court ordered [JURIST report] Nigeria's cabinet to pass a resolution within 14 days on whether Yar'Adua is capable of running the country. Earlier this month, a judge for Nigeria's Federal High Court ordered [JURIST report] Jonathan to assume executive powers in Yar'Adua's absence. Yar'Adua has been receiving medical treatment in Saudi Arabia since late November

In 2008, the Nigerian Supreme Court upheld the results of disputed 2007 election that brought Yar'Adua to power, despite opposition groups' allegations of fraud [JURIST reports]. Yar'Adua had promised to step down if the court invalidated the election. A tribunal [JURIST report] formed before the 2007 election to deal with allegations of fraud ruled that the opposition groups lacked enough evidence of fraud to have the results overturned.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Acts of Union creates Great Britain

On May 1, 1707, the two Acts of Union went into effect, implementing the Treaty of Union and thereby uniting the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The Union with Scotland Act was passed by the Parliament of England in 1706, and the Scottish Parliament promulgated the Union with England Act. Learn more about the Acts of Union from the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

First US trade union formed

On May 1, 1794, the Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers (shoemakers) was organized in Philadelphia to negotiate wages for its members, becoming the first trade union in the United States.

Learn more about the history of the labor movement in the United States, and visit the website of the AFL-CIO, the federation of America's labor unions, representing more than 13 million workers.