NIGERIA: Thousands of protesters in Nigeria have called for the governor of the country's oil-producing Bayelsa state to resign after he fled money-laundering charges in London and returned home disguised as a woman.
Waving placards and beating drums, the crowd of mostly young men said Diepreye Alamieyeseigha should account for the millions of pounds found in illegal foreign bank accounts.
"Alamieyeseigha, we are ashamed of you. Go back to London," read one banner. "He should honourably resign," said youth leader Famous Daunemigha.
British authorities charged Mr Alamieyeseigha with laundering £1.8 million (€2.6 million) in September and froze assets worth £10 million, but he skipped bail and re-emerged in Nigeria, where he enjoys constitutional immunity while in office.
He was feted by supporters on his return to the state government headquarters on Monday, but political opponents began impeachment proceedings against him on Wednesday. Supporters of the governor, who also faces pressure from the federal government to resign, said the protesters were bused into Bayelsa.
"They are not genuine protesters. They came from Port Harcourt to make the governor look bad," said Oyeinfie Jonjon, a staunch ally.
Mr Alamieyeseigha said on Wednesday: "It is clear to any discerning mind that agents of destabilisation are at work."
Reuters