[JURIST] Nigeria's Kaduna Code of Conduct Tribunal on Thursday began legal proceedings against Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, governor of the oil-rich state Bayelsa [profile], on charges of corruption. The tribunal, an anti-corruption body that has the power to strip elected officials of immunity, has begun investigating alleged failures by Alamieyeseigha to declare properties and bank accounts. He fled to Nigeria from the UK [BBC report] where he faced charges for money-laundering after more than $3 million was found in his London home. Alamieyeseigha is seen as an ally of Nigeria's Vice President Atiku Abubakar who is vying with President Olusegun Obasanjo [profile] for control of the ruling People's Democratic Party [BBC backgrounder]. BBC News has more.