LAGOS, Sept. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- A Nigerian state governor has been arrested in London by British police in connection with an investigation of alleged money laundering, Nigeria's anti-fraud agency said Friday.

    "The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been informed of the arrest and questioning of Diepreye Alamieyeseigha," the agency said in a statement faxed to Xinhua.

    "EFCC wishes to state that the commission is fully in the picture of the ongoing investigation and also that EFCC has close collaborative relationship with the Metropolitan Police and other law enforcement agencies around the world," it said.

    Governor Alamieyeseigha of the southern oil-rich Bayelsa state was arrested Thursday afternoon at the Heathrow Airport on his wayback from Germany where he had gone for medical checkup, Nigerian press reported.

    Alamieyeseigha's spokesman Preye Wariowei was not available forcomments now but he denied the arrest in an interview with the Punch newspaper, saying it's "the handiwork of rumormongers aimed at tarnishing the image of the governor ahead of 2007 (general elections)."

    Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information Oronto Douglas is expected to issue a statement on the issue later in the day.

    Alamieyeseigha's arrest may be connected to the transfer of themoney believed to be between 10 million and 20 million pounds (18 million US dollars and 36 million dollars) from an account with the HSBC, a prominent bank in London, This Day newspaper said.

    British police also seized some one million pounds and propertyvalued at about 2 million pounds (3.6 million dollars) during a search of the governor's house in London following his arrest.

    There is no news of the release of Alamieyeseigha so far while some reports said that he may be detained for some days.

    Last week, his three aides, including the finance commissioner,accountant-general and government house accountant, were detained and questioned by the EFCC in connection with alleged cases of diversion of public funds through purchases and awards of contracts.

    Alamieyeseigha is the second Nigerian state governor to be arrested in London over alleged money laundering in the past year.Last year, Governor Joshua Dariye of the central Plateau state wasalso arrested in London but was then released on bail.

    Dariye turned to Nigeria where he enjoys immunity for prosecution as provided for in section 308 of the 1999 constitution, and has since refused to make himself available for further interrogation by British police.

    Government officials in Nigeria, Africa's most populous countryand also the one of the most corrupt in the world, have accused many state governors and their officials of stealing public funds.

    Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo intensified its fight against corruption this year, which saw two ministers and his police chief sacked. But generally, the anti-graft drive has yielded little results so far.

    Last month, the FBI searched the US home of Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar in connection with the alleged corruption investigation of US Congressman William Jefferson. Enditem