VOA常速英语2007年-Nigerian President Vows to Punish Bribe Takers

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
19 November 2007

Nigerian President Umaru YarAdua says allegations by German telecommunications giant Siemens that it paid bribes² to some former Nigerian officials will be investigated and legal action taken against anyone found guilty. From Abuja, Gilbert da Costa reports the allegations have attracted nationwide interest with an opposition³ party describing it as "a national disgrace."

 

Nigeria is often listed as one of the world's most corrupt⁴ countries. Its leaders have been accused of stealing billions of dollars from crude oil money.

 

President Umaru YarAdua came to power in May, promising⁵ urgent measures to stem corruption⁶. Many people see the Siemens bribery⁷ allegation as a test case of his administration and how vigorous he will deal with cases of corruption.

 

A presidential statement quotes Mr. YarAdua as saying, "In the nation that we seek to build under my watch, any public official found to have abused his or her oath of office would not go unpunished."

 

Ibrahim Musa, an anti-corruption activist⁸ in Abuja, says the president, whose election was overshadowed by allegations of widespread irregularities, can only gain support and acceptance by waging a relentless⁹ campaign against corruption.

 

"Given the fact that the current president is trying to find legitimacy¹⁰, acceptability and credibility from both Nigerians and the international community, I think he has to do that. He has started demonstrating the willingness to fight corruption," said Musa.

 

The bribery scandal has dominated the local media since the story broke, last week. Local newspapers have published details of what each indicted¹¹ Nigerian official received from the $13 million allegedly paid out by Siemens.

 

The opposition Action Congress party described the scandal as "a national disgrace" and a huge setback¹³ for the country's quest to redeem¹⁴ its image. Lai Mohamed is the party's spokesman.

 

"It is very embarrassing for Nigeria. We [were] just trying to give the impression that we are out of the woods, and that Nigeria is no longer business as usual. But obviously from that revelation, we've been set back by several years again," said Mohamed.

 

Siemens is reported to have paid bribes to officials in Nigeria and two other countries to win lucrative¹⁵ contracts for telecom equipment deliveries.

 

Four former Nigeria telecom ministers, a senator and officials of Nigerian telecommunications and immigration service are alleged¹² to have benefited from the bribe¹ money.

 

Several of those named have rejected the accusation¹⁶.

 

Nigerian officials have also recently been accused of taking $6 million in bribes from Wilbros, an oil-servicing company, in exchange for contracts.

1 bribe   

n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通

参考例句：

• He tried to bribe the policeman not to arrest him.他企图贿赂警察不逮捕他。
• He resolutely refused their bribe.他坚决不接受他们的贿赂。

2 bribes   

n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 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。

5 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

6 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。

7 bribery   

n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿

参考例句：

• FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
• He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。

8 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

9 relentless   

adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的

参考例句：

• The traffic noise is relentless.交通车辆的噪音一刻也不停止。
• Their training has to be relentless.他们的训练必须是无情的。

10 legitimacy   

n.合法，正当

参考例句：

• The newspaper was directly challenging the government's legitimacy.报纸直接质疑政府的合法性。
• Managing from the top down,we operate with full legitimacy.我们进行由上而下的管理有充分的合法性。

11 indicted   

控告，起诉( indict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The senator was indicted for murder. 那位参议员被控犯谋杀罪。
• He was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of murder. 他被大陪审团以两项谋杀罪名起诉。

12 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

13 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。

14 redeem   

v.买回，赎回，挽回，恢复，履行（诺言等）

参考例句：

• He had no way to redeem his furniture out of pawn.他无法赎回典当的家具。
• The eyes redeem the face from ugliness.这双眼睛弥补了他其貌不扬之缺陷。

15 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。

16 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。