Supporters of Obasanjo, vice-president line up for battle in Senate.

(From BBC Monitoring International Reports)

Text of report by Kola Ologbondiyan entitled "Finally, Obasanjo moves against Atiku", published by Nigerian newspaper This Day website on 7 September; subheading inserted editorially

Indications emerged last night that President Olusegun Obasanjo may have finally removed the gloves in the war with his deputy, Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, asking the Senate to commence impeachment processes against him.

Official sources told THISDAY that Obasanjo's letter, requesting the impeachment process, was delivered to Senate President Ken Nnamani, last night and may be read on the floor this morning. A principal officer of the Senate confirmed to THISDAY last night that "such a request has been sent but we are yet to decide how to handle it".

The memo to Nnamani contains the findings of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigations of alleged financial misdemeanours on the vice-president, especially with regards to what has become "the Globacom affair".

But in a countermove last night, lawmakers loyal to Atiku were said to have compiled no fewer than 127 impeachable offences against Obasanjo which they have also vowed to make available …