The Mike Nifong reign of terror is finally over — he’s asked to be removed from the Duke lacrosse case:

Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong has asked to be removed from the Duke University lacrosse case.

* Nifong made the request in a letter delivered to the office of N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper.

* The attorney general’s office could take over the case.

* Duke University officials said they will welcome the perspective of an “independent party.”

Nifong sent a letter to Cooper this afternoon, according to Noelle Talley, a spokesman for Cooper. The letter asked Cooper to appoint his office’s special prosecution unit to take over the case, Talley said.

How long will it take an independent third party to drop all charges after reviewing the state of Nifong’s case? An hour?