November 6, 2007: After four years of effort, the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission)
has been increasingly successful at bringing senior government officials to justice.
Many such officials have fled the country, and those imprisoned are expected to
use their stolen money to try and buy their way out of jail. Meanwhile, the legislature has not done
anything but argue over corruption since it began work last June. The elections
that created this legislature were considered suspect, with the ruling party
cheating in order to stay in power. However, corrupt politicians generally act
alone, so they are easier to take down. But if the corrupt officials get
organized, there could be more violence.
November 5, 2007: Tribal rebel group MEND has threatened to
destroy some of the Niger River Delta oil fields if the government does not
meet rebel demands for greater political power. MEND has made threats before,
and proved unable, or unwilling, to follow through. MEND does, however, have
some degree of control over several hundred gunmen in the oil producing region.
October 31, 2007: A navy
patrol boat rebuffed a rebel attempt to attack fishing boats. One sailor and
seven rebels were killed, and many more were wounded. Several speedboats full
of rebels were involved.
October 30, 2007: After a
month of debate and and arm-twisting, the speaker of the House of
Representatives, and her deputy, resigned. They were charged with corruption
(stealing several million dollars in a scam involving inflated contracts.) Such
scams are all too common with Nigerian politicians, and it was considered quite
bold to go after the speaker of the House. Meanwhile, police arrested five
people who were plotting the murder of a senior officer of the anti-corruption
police.
