2006年VOA标准英语-Burglars Steal Secret Papers in Nigeria

By Gilbert Da Costa
Abuja
17 July 2006
 
  
  
Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes, the country's leading anti-graft¹ agency, says highly classified documents relating to what is described as "a very sensitive matter" were stolen over the weekend. 

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, known as the EFCC, says unknown people broke into its operational office in Abuja and stole what it referred to as vital documents relating to an ongoing² investigation³ involving an unnamed prominent Nigerian.

EFCC spokesman Osita Nwajah, says sufficient safeguards were put in place and the incident would not affect current investigations⁴.

"Of course we have our suspicions but we would not be able to make that public now so that we don't jeopardize⁵ our investigations. We operate in teams. For instance team A is working on a particular investigation, the central operation office would have the documents," he said. "We do not pass on the original documents to the teams. We make copies of that something to the teams. It is the copy that was made available to the team that got missing. So it is not going to affect our investigation. But we understand that there is a problem if certain people are targeting your office to steal certain documents. So that is an operational hiccup⁶ which we are dealing⁷ with."

The EFCC is waging a high -profile campaign against graft in Nigeria, which is considered the sixth-most-corrupt⁸ country by independent watchdog Transparency International.

The EFCC has secured fraud convictions against some corrupt officials and others, including those who stole $242 million from a Brazilian bank.

Critics say it has been politically manipulated as a weapon against opponents of President Olusegun Obasanjo, but the agency denies this.

Spokesman Nwajah says the EFCC will frustrate⁹ corrupt politicians from running for office during the 2007 general elections.

"Now what EFCC is going to do, is not only to tell the electorates¹⁰ this is what this person has done, we are going to take such an individual to court, where whatever evidence we have, will be tendered and used to prosecute¹¹ the person," added Nwajah. "After we have done all of these, it is the business of the political parties, if they still want to go ahead and field that candidate, they are very free."

EFCC says about two thirds of Nigeria's 36 state governors would have been facing corruption¹² charges, if they did not have immunity¹³. The agency has reportedly seized about $5 billion from corrupt officials and criminal gangs in Nigeria in the past three years.

1 graft   

n.移植，嫁接，艰苦工作，贪污；v.移植，嫁接

参考例句：

• I am having a skin graft on my arm soon.我马上就要接受手臂的皮肤移植手术。
• The minister became rich through graft.这位部长透过贪污受贿致富。

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

4 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

5 jeopardize   

vt.危及，损害

参考例句：

• Overworking can jeopardize your health.工作过量可能会危及你的健康。
• If you are rude to the boss it may jeopardize your chances of success.如果你对上司无礼，那就可能断送你成功的机会。

6 hiccup   

n.打嗝

参考例句：

• When you have to hiccup,drink a glass of cold water.当你不得不打嗝时，喝一杯冷水就好了。
• How long did he hiccup?他打嗝打了多久？

7 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

8 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

9 frustrate   

v.使失望；使沮丧；使厌烦

参考例句：

• But this didn't frustrate Einstein.He was content to go as far as he could.但这并没有使爱因斯坦灰心，他对能够更深入地研究而感到满意。
• They made their preparations to frustrate the conspiracy.他们作好准备挫败这个阴谋。

10 electorates   

全体选民( electorate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The assembly's 15 seats have electorates as small as 190. 大会的15个议席只有很少的190选民参加。
• Restricting hedge funds is something they can sell to their electorates. 限制对冲基金是他们能够向选民兜售的东西。

11 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

12 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

13 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。