Posted by BBC News on
The governor of Ekiti State in Nigeria, has been impeached after MPs found him and his deputy guilty of misconduct.
Ayo Fayose's sacking has heightened tensions in the south-western state with riot police deployed in the state capital, Ado-Ekiti.
Mr Fayose is the third governor to be impeached since Nigeria returned to multiparty democracy in 1999.
He denies graft and is believed to have fled to another West African country to avoid possible arrest and trial.
Serving Nigerian governors have immunity from criminal prosecution, but once removed, they lose their immunity and could stand trial.
Nigeria's anti-corruption watchdog, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), recently accused Mr Fayose of diverting $100,000 to a personal account in the US.
He was also accused of receiving kickbacks on a poultry project embarked upon by his state government.
The EFCC says almost all of Nigeria's 36 state governors are corrupt.
Row
The Ekiti State House of Assembly says it was shocked by the EFCC's allegations against the governor and decided to set up a special investigative panel to look into them.
The investigative panel, headed by the chief judge of the state said it found evidence of corruption against the governor and recommended his sacking.
But the governor's supporters say that he and his deputy, Mrs Biodun Olujimi, are being "persecuted" because he had fallen out with President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Mr Fayose also claims that local state assembly leaders agreed to remove him from office in exchange for higher political positions.