High Court allowed 2 torture victims to challenge asylum status of former Liberian President Charles Taylor. Biafran separatist Ralph Uwazurike charged with treason 4 November; supporters clashed with police. Former police inspector Gen. Tafa Balogun pleaded guilty to corruption charges; first senior official to be convicted in anti-corruption drive. Bayelsa state Governor Alamieyeseigha charged with money laundering, skipped UK bail and returned to Nigeria, claiming immunity as sitting governor; now faces impeachment. Extra troops deployed to Bayelsa state as tensions rose in capital Yenagoa with protests for and against impeachment.

Separate  incidents  in  Lagos  highlighted  poor security: trivial dispute between police and soldiers killed 3 civilians, while 2 factions of outlawed militia group Oodua People’s Congress clashed in suburb, killing 3. Government said uncovered 10,000-strong terrorist organisation in Niger Delta region threatening oil flow. Ijaw militant Dokubo-Asari charged with felony and Biafran separatist leader Ralph Uwazuruike arrested. 2-day UN-led bilateral Abuja meeting on Nigeria-Cameroon border dispute failed to set deadline for Nigerian withdrawal from Bakassi peninsula.

Separatists threatened to sabotage oil installations should Mujahid Dokubu-Asari, head of Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, arrested Port Harcourt 20 September, not be released. Idama oil-flow station stormed by 100 separatists day of arrest; subsequently reopened under army protection. President Obasanjo agreed to anti-corruption investigation after accused of taking bribes. Governor of oil-rich Bayelsa state arrested in UK in money laundering investigation. Thousands marched in Lagos protesting 30% fuel price rise.

President Obasanjo acknowledged widespread extrajudicial killings and torture by police in unprecedented statement 18 August, promising action. 32 people killed by detention in poorly ventilated cell by vigilante group, sparking riot in southern town of Aba. 700 Nigerian soldiers airlifted to Sudan's Darfur region to strengthen African Union force.

National political reform conference suspended 12 July as disputes over oil revenue-sharing continued. Up to 48 people from Delta and Edo states believed missing after communal violence. Supreme Court rejected former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari’s challenge to 2003 presidential election results. In first trial of its kind, proceedings against 6 police charged with June extra-judicial killing of traders opened Abuja. UN Envoy Philip Alston urged such trials to become norm, criticised Nigerian police after fact-finding mission.

National political reform conference adopted distribution plan giving 17% of oil revenues to producing regions; Delta region representatives demanded at least 25%. Cameroon’s President Biya complained of 4 “incidents” in oil- rich Bakassi peninsula including killing of Cameroonian soldier by Nigerian troops; planned conference to discuss implementation of 2002 International Court of Justice border ruling not attended by Nigeria. U.S. (amongst others) shut Lagos mission 17 June - later reopened - citing terrorist threat.

Cameroon’s President Biya and Nigeria’s President Obasanjo agreed final pull-out from oil-rich Bakassi peninsula, awarded to Cameroon in 2002 ICJ ruling; timeline not finalised. Violence erupted in Sokoto town, northwest Nigeria, after Sunni Muslims attempted to prevent Shias from entering mosque. Human Rights Watch blamed politicians for religious manipulation leading to 900 deaths in interfaith violence in central Nigeria, February- May 2004; criticised government response as inadequate. 80 arrested for holding illegal Biafran secessionist meeting.

Sporadic violence across Nigeria: ethnic Fulani militias killed 14 in central Benue state while 100 died in land disputes on border between Cross River and Ebonyi states. President Obasanjo continued anti-corruption drive, challenging political rivals to demonstrate any corruption linked to president.

Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, leader of Niger Delta People Volunteer Force, urged Ijaw to retaliate massively should they be attacked by Yoruba in oil-rich Delta province. In Anambra state, long-running dispute between governor and local power-broker led to both being expelled from ruling People’s Democratic Party. Anti-corruption drive ongoing: national education minister Fabian Ouji sacked as result of allegations he bribed MPs to pass inflated education budget; president of Senate indicted for accepting bribe.

President Obasanjo opened national constitutional conference 21 February; opposition leaders criticised agenda as too narrow, attendance as dominated by presidential nominees, and stayed away, promising parallel conference. Violence continued in oil-rich Delta province, with 1 person killed in group occupation of Warri oil terminal, 12 killed in boat ambush - locals claimed 33 dead in army raid on Odioma. At least 30 reported dead after clashes between herdsman and farmers in eastern Adamawa state in land disputes.