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Wanted Nigeria governor wins case | Wanted Nigeria governor wins case |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Nigeria's Supreme Court has ruled that impeached Plateau State governor Joshua Dariye be reinstated immediately. | Nigeria's Supreme Court has ruled that impeached Plateau State governor Joshua Dariye be reinstated immediately. |
His impeachment last November by eight of Plateau's 24-member state house of assembly was illegal, the court said. | His impeachment last November by eight of Plateau's 24-member state house of assembly was illegal, the court said. |
The judgement has sparked rejoicing in Jos among supporters of Mr Dariye, who has been on the run since last year. | The judgement has sparked rejoicing in Jos among supporters of Mr Dariye, who has been on the run since last year. |
Mr Dariye skipped UK bail three years ago, after money-laundering claims. He was accused of embezzling nearly $9m of public funds. | Mr Dariye skipped UK bail three years ago, after money-laundering claims. He was accused of embezzling nearly $9m of public funds. |
It is not clear when Mr Dariye will return to Plateau State capital, Jos. | It is not clear when Mr Dariye will return to Plateau State capital, Jos. |
But his spokesman Yakubu Datti told the BBC's News website that Mr Dariye "is ready to return to Jos as soon as his security aides are restored." | |
Religious clashes | |
Mr Dariye was first suspended from office for six months in 2004 after President Olusegun Obasanjo declared a state of emergency in the state. | |
Mr Obasanjo said the governor had failed to contain religious and ethnic clashes that claimed some 1,000 lives. | |
Although he was later reinstalled as governor, Mr Dariye got into fresh trouble in September 2004 when the London Metropolitan Police arrested him for alleged money laundering. | |
Mr Dariye skipped UK bail and returned to Nigeria where legislators impeached him for the same charges in November last year. | |
A high court later nullified his sacking and ordered his reinstament. | |
But his deputy Michael Botmang, who succeeded him, appealed against the decision of the court and lost. | |
Unhappy with the outcome of the appeal, Mr Botmang headed for the Supreme Court which also ruled that Mr Dariye should be reinstated. | |
"We are a law-abiding government. We won't stay a day longer than necessary," said Mr Botmang's spokesman. |
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