Mr Fayose was impeached over allegations of corruption

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.

'Selective justice'

The Nigerian government established the EFCC in 2003 to combat corruption, advanced fee fraud, locally known as 419, and other economic crimes in the oil-rich west African country.

Nigeria is on Transparency International's list of the world's most corrupt countries.

President Olusegun Obasanjo's critics accuse the EFCC of being selective in its anti-corruption effort.

They say the EFCC only targets the president's political opponents and critics.

Since it was established three years ago, the EFCC has carried out investigations that have led to the impeachment of three governors, albeit amid controversy.

Diepreye Alamieyeseigha of the oil-rich Bayelsa state was impeached last December after he jumped bail in the UK and returned to Nigeria dressed as a woman.

Mr Alamieyeseigha is currently standing trial in Nigeria on charges of money laundering and embezzlement of state funds.

Mr Rashid Ladoja of Oyo State was also impeached last January following allegations that he had also used his office as governor to corruptly enrich himself.

Plateau State Governor Joshua Dariye is a current target of the EFCC.

Mr Dariye was arrested in the UK in 2004 on suspicion of money laundering. Like Mr Alamieyeseigha, he also jumped bail and returned to Nigeria where efforts are still on to impeach him.