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« IMF seeks inflation, interest rates harmony | Main | FCT doctors join strike »

November 28, 2005

Nigeria presses UK over governor

Nigeria's president says he has written to the UK prime minister asking how a Nigerian state governor charged with money laundering was able to skip bail.

Olusegun Obasanjo said he had contacted Tony Blair after the governor of oil-rich Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, escaped to Nigeria.

The governor had been charged with three counts involving £1.8m ($3.2m).

Mr Obasanjo has launched a campaign to stop Nigeria being seen as a country where corruption is rife.

BBC World Affairs Correspondent Mark Doyle says the Nigerian authorities are now clearly furious that a man accused of money laundering in the UK should be able to escape to Nigeria where, as governor, he has immunity from prosecution.

The Nigerian army has sent additional troops into Bayelsa and set up roadblocks. 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 BBC's Abdullahi Kaura Abubakar in the city says some 1,500 people called on Mr Alamieyeseigha to resign, while 500 people backed him. The marches passed off peacefully.

But apart from the marches and the roadblocks, life is continuing as normal.

Surprise

The Nigerian president's office said that since the UK and Nigeria were collaborating in the fight against corruption, President Obasanjo had been surprised to learn that the governor had been able to jump bail in the UK.

Nigerian officials have said Mr Alamieyeseigha had left Britain disguised in women's clothing, although he has denied this.

Mr Alamieyeseigha said he was prepared to return to Britain, where police say they want him back to face the charges.

He said the charges against him were politically motivated.

The UK's High Court rejected his argument that he should enjoy immunity as a Nigerian state governor but said he could appeal to the House of Lords.

Army Brigadier General Elias Zamani told Reuters news agency that rival militant youths armed with weapons had been seen in Yenagoa.

"The way things are going it could escalate to where different groups start fighting," he said.

"So it's a pre-emptive step to save lives and property."

Bail forfeited

The leader of one of Bayelsa's militant movements, the Ijaw Youth Council, accused soldiers of intimidating and harassing civilians.

"They will strip you almost naked in an attempt to search you," Jonjon Oyinfie said.

"They are stopping all the buses and making passengers get off and put their hands in the air."

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.

Mr Obasanjo's critics say his anti-corruption drive is bring used to eliminate political rivals.

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 05:49 PM

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