Nigeria governor sacking reversed

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6431823.stm

Version 0 of 1.

An appeal court in Nigeria's central Plateau State has reversed last November's impeachment of its state governor, Joshua Dariye.

Mr Dariye's impeachment violated the constitution, the judges ruled, and he should by reinstated "immediately".

Mr Dariye's supporters are already calling on successor Michael Botmang to obey the ruling and hand leadership of the state back to his former boss.

Mr Dariye skipped UK bail three years ago, after money-laundering claims.

He was accused of embezzling nearly $9m in public funds.

Mr Dariye's former deputy has said his government will appeal.

This is the fourth sacking this year of a governor that has been declared illegal by Nigeria's courts.

Plateau politicians say the ruling will affect April's polls in the state.

"We understand that the state government is going to appeal the ruling. If it is upheld by the Supreme Court, then we can be sure that it have a far-reaching impact on the election," says Lumumba Dah Adeh, a politician in Jos, the plateau state capital.

Mr Dariye was sacked by eight of Plateau State's 24-member state house of assembly in a process that the court said was illegal.

President Olusegun Obasanjo has been criticised for using his powers to target political opponents in a tough anti-corruption campaign.