LAGOS, Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - Deputies fought in the Nigerian parliament as assembly speaker Patricia Etteh was about to give evidence on millions of dollars (euros) used to renovate her official home, press reports said Friday.

Etteh was about to speak before a commission of inquiry on Thursday, when opponents started shouting 'thief! thief!' and the brawl erupted, said newspapers which put pictures of the fighting on their front pages.

Security forces escorted Etteh from the chamber before she was able to speak.

Commission chairman David Idoko has ordered that future hearings be held behind closed doors.

The speaker and her deputy are accused of having made contracts worth almost five million dollars (3.6 million euros) for the renovation and new furnishings for their official homes.

Etteh says the work was carried out within official rules and that it only involved 1.8 million dollars. The official NAN news agency quoted her as saying that 'lies' and 'disinformation' had been used against her.

On Wednesday, parliament secretary Niyi Ajiboye said he had opposed plans for the payment of about 765,000 dollars for massage equipment for Etteh.