New bid to oust Nigeria governor

The fighting in Yelwa sparked revenge attacks elsewhere

President Olusegun Obasanjo has filed a petition seeking the impeachment of a newly reinstated governor, accusing him of corruption.

Plateau State leader Joshua Dariye returned to office on Thursday, after a six-month state of emergency imposed as a result of Muslim-Christian tension was lifted.

He returned home to a hero's welcome, despite allegations that he was involved in money-laundering activities in the UK.

In May, hundreds of Muslims were killed by Christians in southern Plateau, prompting riots in northern Nigeria.

Mr Obasanjo responded by removing the governor and his team.

UK probe

The governor is reportedly due to return to London in December to answer more questions about charges that he smuggled millions of dollars out of the country and laundered them through UK bank accounts.

Over the last three years, the conflict in Plateau has left several thousand people dead.

The conflict is sometimes described as religious, but at its heart is a dispute over access to land and political office, says the BBC's correspondent in Lagos, Anna Borzello.

At the time of his suspension, President Obasanjo accused Mr Dariye of failing to pay sufficient attention to the deteriorating security situation.

The decision to lift the state of emergency is largely because of improved security, but even though he has his job back, Mr Dariye's political future is by no means certain, our correspondent says.