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« Ohanaeze disowns Uwazuruike | Main | Darfur rebels 'united' for talks »

November 28, 2005

Extra troops for Nigerian state

The Nigerian army has sent additional troops into Bayelsa state, amid tensions over the possible impeachment of the governor.

Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha recently returned to Bayelsa after skipping bail in the UK, where he has been charged with money laundering.

The state legislature has moved to impeach the governor.

Tension is high in the state capital, Yenagoa, with rival groups marching in favour of and against the governor.

The governor denies the charges of money laundering and says he is being persecuted for political reasons.

Soldiers set up road blocks in the state capital, Yenagoa, on Monday morning.

The BBC's Abdullahi Kaura Abubakar in Yenagoa reports that convoys of military vehicles are driving around the streets of the city.

'Tense'

"The area has been tense, there have been attempts by the house for impeachment. Militant youths have been moved into that place armed with weapons," Army Brigadier General Elias Zamani told Reuters news agency.

"There are different groups. They way things are going it could escalate to where different groups start fighting. So it's a pre-emptive step to save lives and property."


Diepreye Alamieyeseigha insists that the £1.8m ($3.2m) found in cash and bank accounts was not his.

In the UK, High Court judges have rejected his argument that he should enjoy immunity as a Nigerian state governor but said he could appeal to the House of Lords.

It is not clear whether Nigeria's federal security forces will try to arrest Mr Alamieyeseigha, as he has immunity from prosecution in Nigeria as long as he remains in office as governor.

Mr Alamieyeseigha was originally arrested in September at Heathrow airport and some £1m-worth of cash was allegedly found in his London home.

He was granted bail on condition that he remained in the UK, surrendered his passport and reported regularly to the police.

If the judges find that he has skipped bail, securities worth some £1.25m ($2.14m) would be forfeited.

Nigeria is considered one of the world's most corrupt countries but President Olusegun Obasanjo has vowed to fight the problem.

Mr Obasanjo's critics say the anti-corruption drive is being used to target his political opponents.

Mr Alamieyeseigha is seen as being close to Vice-President Atiku Abubakar - who is vying with Mr Obasanjo for control of the ruling People's Democratic Party.

Posted by Publisher at November 28, 2005 06:02 PM

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