Unless you provide concrete evidence, I don't think there is anything unusual. Before they only had Brainboss as a merit source, and I don't know if theymos ended up appointing another one. But in any case, that merit circulates in a local section is normal and the Nigerian community is quite important in Bitcointalk. I'm sure most of those that come to mind, like Brainboss, Charles-Tim, Igebotz and many others have earned their merits honestly.