Does the United States of America [USA] have any ulterior motive commencing the recruitment of young men and women from two ethnic groups in Nigeria: Igbo and Hausa into the US army?

According to the recruitment exercise’s dedicated website www.defence.gov/news/mavni-fact-sheet, the US army is looking for native speakers of 44 languages, including Hausa, Igbo, Azerbaijani, Cambodian-Khmer, Persian Dari (spoken in Afghanistan), Portuguese, Tamil (spoken in South Asia) and French (spoken in West Africa), among others.

The programme, code-named, Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest, or Mavni, is not open to illegal immigrants, who are barred by law from enlisting. In general, immigrants who are not citizens must have a permanent resident visa, known as a green card, to enlist. Under the programme, a total of 1,500 immigrants are to be recruited each year for two years, mainly into the Army.

Already, the New York Times, in its October 28, 2012 edition, reported the excitement of the recruits and US top officials handling the entire process.

Eileen Lainez, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said the programme was intended to fill “some of our most critical readiness needs.”

The programme , which was reportedly active in 2009, was suspended in January 2010, only for it to be re-activated in September this year.

According to the report, thousands of immigrants were enthusiastic of being recruited throughout the period the exercise was put in abeyance in January 2010, despite the fact that they could be deployed to conflict spots around the world.

Towards the end of September, the US Army headquarters, Pentagon, re-opened the programme, which the authorities claim is designed to enlist legal immigrants with special language and medical skills.

Some analysts say the eagerness of the immigrants is due to the prevalent appalling socio-economic and political crises in their home countries, as it has encouraged the scramble by most youths for the American visa lottery, with prospect for job opportunities in the United States.

US military officials were quoted as saying the year-long pilot programme brought an unusually well-educated and skilled cohort of immigrants into the armed services.

“Their qualifications were really stellar,” said Naomi Verdugo, assistant deputy for recruiting for the Army. “And we have been very pleased about how these folks have been performing.”

The programme is open to immigrants on temporary visas, who otherwise would not be eligible to enlist, while to qualify, immigrants must have been living in the US legally for at least two years, as well as be high school graduates and pass the entrance test.

According to the report, the first round filled up quickly, and the Army turned away thousands of people. Many of them signed the Facebook petition and were hoping the programme would start again.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2918-why-us-army-is-recruiting-hausa-igbo

The Federal Government is ready for dialogue with Boko Haram but on one condition that the Spiritual and Political Leader of the sect, Imam Abubakar Shekau, will be at the negotiation table.

It was also learnt that the government may come up with an Amnesty Programme for members of the sect after ceasefire and disarmament if they are sincere.

A government source, who spoke in strict confidence, said the conditions set by the group would be resolved during the dialogue.

The source said: “We were not surprised by the offer of the dialogue because there had been contacts between the sect and National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki in the last few months.

“As a matter of fact, the NSA had some talks with the leaders of the sect last week where it was indicated that Shekau’s deputy might lead Boko Haram delegation to the dialogue.

“The NSA however said the government would want Shekau to head the team from the sect’s side in order to give the proposed talks more weight.

“With Shekau, who is the spiritual and political leader of Boko Haram, there will be a meaningful direction for the discussion by the two parties.

“If it works out and if Boko Haram is sincere with the dialogue option, the government will embrace it.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “Once we can find common grounds, the government will come up with a rehabilitation initiative which is similar to the ongoing Amnesty Programme.

“Even in the case of the affected parts of the North, there might be a joint reconstruction programme between the Federal Government and the ravaged states.”

Concerning the demand of Boko Haram for the arrest of ex-Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, the source added: “That is a political side of their demands which the government will look into.

“From security reports and investigation by agencies, some members of the sect gave Sheriff support during his election based on three demands.

“The demands were a creation of a Ministry for Islamic (Religious Affairs), being part of Sheriff’s government and the implementation of Sharia in Borno State.

“They parted ways with Sheriff when he refused to implement the Sharia policy. The situation worsened following the brutal killing of the leader of the sect, Mohammed Yusuf and a former Commissioner for Islamic (Religious) Affairs in Sheriff’s cabinet.

“The dialogue will shape discussions on the fate of Sheriff.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/govt-may-accept-dialogue-offer-with-condition/
More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2908-fgt-may-accept-boko-harams-dialogue-offer-with-condition

A 45-year-old man pastor, Peter Oladiti, on Wednesday, appeared before an Ibadan Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing Ipad and other sets of computer set valued at over N240,00.

Prosecutor Sikiru Opaleye told the court that the accused also allegedly stole an HP laptop computer valued N85, 000 and a printing machine worth N8, 000, property of a secondary school principal.

Opaleye said that the accused committed the offence on Oct.7 at Ile-Eja, Olohunsogo Area of Ibadan.

The prosecutor added that the offences contravened Sections 413 and 390 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo state of Nigeria 2000.

The accused pleaded guilty to the charges and his counsel, Mr Philips Ojo, applied for out of court settlement of the matter.

The case was adjourned to Jan. 30, 2013 for further hearing.


www.channelstv.com/home/2012/11/01/pastor-admits-stealing-ipad-in-ibadan/

nagoma:

Yes of course, Patricia Etteh and Dimeji Bankole were not Senators.

They were members of House of Reps not Senators

Of course, Democrazy in action!

As doctors at the Yola Specialist Hospital battled on Thursday to save the life of Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State after he was involved in a plane crash, a band of thugs invaded Government House, Jalingo and chased out his deputy, Alhaji Garba Umar.

The invasion, which is now being probed by the State Security Service (SSS), is strongly suspected to be part of a plot to stop Umar from succeeding Suntai in the event that the governor did not survive.

At the centre of the SSS probe is a senator said to have instigated the attack.

Governor Suntai was widely rumoured to have died in the crash until the Presidency and the Ministry of Aviation, in separate statements, said he did not.

Umar, who was only sworn-in on October 5, was forced out of the Government House by thugs allegedly acting on the orders of the Senator.

Umar’s predecessor, Alhaji Sani Abubakar, was himself stopped from seeing the governor in the hospital by security agents.

Governor Suntai was transferred from Yola to the National Hospital, Abuja yesterday, wearing an oxygen mask. He was heavily bandaged.

A highly placed source who spoke on the Government House invasion, said: “Following the rumoured death of the governor, some thugs loyal to a serving senator invaded the Government House at about 11pm and unconstitutionally ejected the Deputy Governor from the place.

“They were shouting that under no condition would they allow the Deputy Governor to succeed Suntai who was presumed dead.

“Worried by the threat to his life, the Deputy Governor was ferried by security aides to the state office of the SSS in Jalingo.

“He slept at the SSS office overnight to avoid being killed. But a reinforcement of security around the Deputy Governor was effected on Friday to prevent further harassment against him.”

The source added: “We are investigating the alleged involvement of a serving senator in the illegal attack on the Deputy Governor.

“If the senator’s culpability is established, we will effect his arrest and trial.

“So far, it has been established that the senator has been at loggerheads with the governor. The suspect was opposed to how the immediate past Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sani Abubakar, was impeached by the Taraba State House of Assembly based on ‘cooked up’ allegations of gross misconduct levelled against him by the state lawmakers.”

Suntai was moved to the National Hospital, Abuja at about 2.08 p.m yesterday under tight security.

He was driven into the hospital premises in a State House Medical Centre Ambulance with registration number SH 576.

He was bandaged from head to toe and had an oxygen mask on his face.

He sat on a reclining chair in the ambulance.

A total of seven vehicles were in the convoy, many of them occupied by security operatives.

By then, reporters and photographers had positioned themselves at the entrance of the Accident and Emergency Unit.

But as soon as the security operatives sighted the newsmen, they diverted the ambulance to the back of the hospital.

At about 3.10 pm, President Goodluck Jonathan arrived the hospital to personally assess the governor’s condition.

He told reporters as he departed that the governor’s condition had stabilised.

He said: “First and foremost, we have to thank God for what has happened. Plane crash is not something you can just wave off. We are quite happy that the Governor is still stable and feeling well.”

“The doctors are working very hard on him. I believe that by God’s will, he will soon come out of it. But he is still in the hospital. No doubt about that. And the professor/ CMD is here. He can just say one or two things. Being a Governor, people are worried. They want to know his state of health.”

The Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Prof. Bala Shehu, said: “Just like the President said, he is very stable. Obviously, in the first 24 hours of any injuries, there are worries. There are very few worries. There are very few. So, we will continue to observe him for the first 24 hours.

“There is no need to do any operation on him. He is very stable. Given what happened, we are actually satisfied with the situation at the moment.”

However, a source in the hospital said the governor had neurological disorder from the crash.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2864-taraba-gov-plane-crash-thugs-storm-govt-house-sack-deputy-governor

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been sentenced to four years in prison for tax fraud.

Mr Berlusconi and others were accused of buying US film rights at inflated prices via two offshore companies under his control.

The former prime minister is expected to appeal against the verdict.

He has faced a number of trials connected to his business affairs, but has either been cleared or cases have run beyond the judicial time limit.

In the case for which he was sentenced on Friday, prosecutors alleged that part of the money declared for the purchase of film rights was skimmed off to create illegal slush funds, reducing tax liabilities for Mediaset, one of Mr Berlusconi's companies.

The court handed Mr Berlusconi a longer sentence than the three years and eight months requested by prosecutors. The trial began six years ago.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2858-former-italian-pm-silvio-berlusconi-sentenced-to-four-years-for-tax-fraud

The Lion – once a proud king of the jungle – can now barely rise to walk to collect the meat thrust through his cage as severe malnourishment means he is close to death.

Animal abuse in Nigeria is rife at the Benue state Zoo - a terrible story that is a microcosm for the present state of our country.

“A society that treats animals as though they don’t matter will treat her citizens in the same way,” says Nat Apir, a concerned citizen who is trying to bring attention to the terrible plight of the animals.

Staff estimate that 80% of the animals once held in Benue state Zoo have died – mostly from starvation – which Nat Apir says has been most acute in the last three months.

“This zoo is in a total state of neglect,” says Nat. “What I see here can only be likened to cruelty.”

There are only two lions now left alive – one lion is covered in sores and is so thin that his skin hangs about his protruding ribs and bones, while the second lion remains locked up. In captivity lions should eat about 10kg of meat a day but these two lions have gone for weeks without food. Only with Nat Apir’s recent appearance have they been fed twice for the last week.

“Most of the animals are dead and those that are alive are barely struggling to survive,” says Nat, who has bought some food to feed the animals.

Only two monkeys and one chimpanzee remain alive – surviving on a handful of peanuts each day. They can be seen scraping around in the dust desperate for food. The remaining ostriches are fed weeds and last two crocodiles go for weeks without food.

The few staff remaining at the zoo are given 8000 Naira a month ($50) but it can take two to three months to get paid.

It is not the staffs fault, but rather, Nat blames the Benue state government for the terrible abuse and raises serious questions about any quarter of the Nigerian government system to establish privatisation or private-public partnerships.

“Privatisation and Public-Private partnerships should involve a transparent process where the best people are brought in to manage state enterprises and businesses,” says Nat.

Recently, the management of Makurdi Zoo was partly privatised and handed over to a company named Afric-Consulting as a co-investor together with Benue state government. They could not be reached for comment but Nat doubts the “competency” of the company to manage the zoo.

“The challenge is when there is no transparency in the things we do,” says Nat, who works as a consultant to the Benue State government on projects . “We don’t sit down in one office and begin to appoint people to come and take over our state patrimony.”

And the lack of transparency and disregard for both the animals and human concerns by the government continues:

“I tried to put a call thru to the governor thru one of his aides and the guys was just insulting and and shouting at me.”

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2850-video-animal-cruelty--abuse-of-animals-at-benue-zoo-viewers-discretion

The military in Borno State has issued a warning on likely massive terror attacks in the state during the Eid el Kabir Sallah holidays which starts on Thursday through the weekend.

The military said it has intelligence that foreign mercenaries have been coopted by the Boko Haram for the planned attacks.

The Spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Lt. Col. Sagir Musa in a release said the plan involved targeting the military and civilians.

Information available to the Joint Task force, Operation Restore Order indicates that the Boko Haram terrorists are planning massive attacks on military and civilian targets during Eid el Kabir Sallah period.


“Consequently, the terrorists group has invited foreign mercenaries to assist them in launching the attacks. The group has also advised members of the public to store enough food items and other routine household requirements as they believe that the JTF will impose curfew on Maiduguri in the event of breakdown of law and order.”

The JTF thus advised members of the public to report suspicious persons and activities to security agencies.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the government of next-door Yobe State today slammed a curfew on Potiskum, the state’s commercial hub following the breach of security and the killing of scores last week by members of the Boko Haram.

Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam approved the curfew that will run from 4.pm to 7.am daily, beginning from today.

According to a press statement by his Special Adviser, Press Affairs and Information, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, “the imposition of restriction of movement in Potiskum town begins from today Monday 22nd October 2012 from 4.00PM to 7.00AM daily.”

He said the decision was taken following a meeting that the governor had with heads of law enforcement agencies in the state and it is designed to ensure the protection of life and property and the maintenance of law and order.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2831-terror-attacks-likely-in-borno-during-muslim-holiday-jtf-warns

A middle-aged man, simply identified as Dekunle, on Sunday afternoon, killed his grandparents, Pa Busari Ogundeji, 140 and Madam Olalonpe, 120, at N4/204, Yemetu, Adeoyo, Ibadan, Oyo State.

According to an eyewitness, the entire neighbourhood was alerted to the happening at the house when another old woman, identified simply as Iya Eleko, who watched as Madam Olalonpe was being butchered, raised the alarm.

The alarm from Iya Eleko drew the attention of residents, including Pa Ogundeji, who, on getting to the scene, was overpowered by Dekunle and was thereafter macheted to death.

“I’m one of those who helped pack the corpses after the incident. Mama sustained several cuts on her body. He also hit grandpa on the chest, head and leg. They could not have survived the incident,” the eyewitness said.

Iya Eleko also had her arm injured in the process, while the corpses had been deposited at the mortuary of the state hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2766-tragedy-grandson-kills-grandparents-in-oyo

Gunmen have opened fire on Muslim worshipers as they were leaving a mosque in Kaduna state this morning, killing at least 20 people.

The attack happened in a remote village called Dogo Dawa, in Kaduna state, said Abdullahi Muhammad, the traditional ruler and councillor of Birnin Gwari, a local government area next door to the village.

The state police commissioner Olufemi Adenaike confirmed the incident, but did not give a death toll.

Also this morning, there has been an explosion accompanied by sounds of ongoing gunshots on Bama road of Lagos Street in Maiduguri.

Lagos Street was the place were an explosion killed some soldiers about a week ago leading to retaliatory attacks on civilians and houses by security operatives, which allegedly led to the death of about 35 people.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2764-gunmen-kill-20-worshippers-in-kaduna-mosque

In an old episode of The Office, boss Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) attempts to convince the employees at his Scranton, Penn. paper company of the gritty "realities" of prison after he hears some of them say they'd rather be in jail than work at Dunder-Mifflin.

Michael eventually realizes that his workers wouldn't really prefer to spend their days in jail. But for one man in another part of Pennsylvania, the allure of prison was very real. So real that he decided to rob a bank in the hopes of landing himself a spot in the slammer. Even though he demanded just $1, Jeffery M. McMullen, 50, has been charged with three robbery offenses for the stunt, the Johnstown, Penn.

McMullen, a regular customer at an AmeriServ bank branch in western Pennsylvania's Cambria County, outlined his demands in two notes he handed to the tellers, who initially thought it was a joke. Soon, he allegedly told an employee to "to give him the money so no one got hurt," and tried reaching into her money drawer. Eventually, another employee took a dollar bill from her purse and handed it to him.

In McMullen's first note, he allegedly wrote, "FBI custody. Preferbly [sic] Loretto Pa. No press. Seal all files." In an additional note, he allegedly scrawled, "Federal bank robbery. Please hand over $1.00." Although the first note referred to the federal prison in Loretto, Penn., he's currently being held in Cambria County prison.

Police have yet to determine why McMullen was so eager to get himself into the clink. NewsFeed's current hypothesis: he saw a re-run of that Office episode, agreed that prison sounded pretty great, and began scheming. If only he'd made it to the end of the segment.

More: http://www.channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2749-man-robs-1-from-bank-in-bid-to-get-sent-to-prison

CHANNELKOOS NEWS can exclusively report that the Managing Director of Keystone Bank Mr. Oti Ikomi has resigned his position as the managing director of the bank.

Mr. Ikomi tendered his resignation a few hours ago to the Board of the bank. In his resignation letter he sighted personal reasons for his resignation.

Oti Ikomi is a seasoned professional banker with a wealth of experience spanning over two decades.

He has led businesses to exceptional results with revenue, market share and overall business growth. He has a leading expertise in Banking Executive Management, Corporate, Commercial and Transactional Banking. He has a vast geographical business and working knowledge in Africa covering over 30 African countries from West, East, Southern and North Africa.

http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2742-keystone-bank-md-oti-ikomi-resigns

Logicboy03:


Ignorance.

If I am thankful for the food I eat, I can thank the farmer, the foodseller, the cook etc but not god

If I am thankful for the tax policy, I can thank the government and the protesting citizens but not god

Arrogance.

Accept it. You are thankful to God for the Italian authorities.

Logicboy03: I am an atheist but,




[size=38pt]Hallelujah!!!![/size]

Yea, I feel you . . . you know the worst time of being an atheist is when you are grateful for something and you have nobody to thank.

Hope that the Nigerian authorities can toe this path and make sure that all these 'business centres' scattered across the country as 'churches starts paying tax and other duties to the State

. . . right about time

The Italian Catholic Church will be stripped of an historic tax exemption from 2013 after the government upheld a divisive February decree under close scrutiny from EU watchdogs.

The Church currently pays tax on several properties it owns that are commercial enterprises but is exempt if at least some of the activities on the property are “non-commercial” — for example a chapel in a hotel.

“The regulatory framework will be definite by January 1, 2013 — the start of the fiscal year — and will fully respect the (European) Community law,” Prime Minister Mario Monti’s government said in a statement late Tuesday.

In February, the government had amended Italy’s property tax law to end the Church’s privileges amid rising calls for the Vatican to share in debt crisis sacrifices and in the face of intense scrutiny from the European Commission.

On Monday the Council of State, Italy’s highest ranking court for administrative litigation, rejected the decree. But the government insisted everyone would pay property tax, Church included.

In 2010 the EU opened an investigation into whether tax breaks enjoyed by some Church properties in Italy could be classed as illegal state aid.

The extra revenue from these exempt properties — including hotels, restaurants and sports centres — could be 25.5 million euros ($33.9 million) a year in Rome alone, La Repubblica daily has reported, citing official figures.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2731-roman-catholic-church-to-start-tax-payment-in-italy-from-2013

UPDATE:
We can confirm that the person JTF killed yesterday was the notorious, one-eyed Bakaka, the field commander of Boko Haram in Damaturu and a close associate of Abubakar Shekau

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2712-jtf-kills-boko-harams-field-commander-30-others-in-damaturu

praying and waiting for JTF confirmation

Information reaching CHANNELKOOS NEWS from unconfirmed sources within the JTF in Borno State indicates that Abubakar Shekau the self acclaimed Islamist leader of the Nigerian militant group Jamā'atu Ahlis Sunnah Lādda'awatih wal-Jihad), better known by its Hausa name Boko Haram may have been killed in joint operation of the JTF and the SSS this afternoon in Borno State.

Though the JTF Commandant in Borno is yet to confirm the development, but unconfirmed sources claim that they are certain that Abubakar Shekau was the one killed this afternoon

Abubakar Shekau is said to have a photographic memory and is well-versed in theology, having studied it. His nickname is "Darul Tawheed", which translates as a specialist in Tawheed, the Islamic concept of oneness with Allah. He is also fluent in his native Kanuri language, as well as Hausa and Arabic languages

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2708-boko-haram-leader-abubakar-shekau-killed-by-jtf-in-borno

Well done oga Aliko.

It will be good if you also extend your generosity to other affected areas.

Billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote, on Saturday, donated food items worth N50 million and N150 million in cash to victims of recent flood disaster in Kogi.

Announcing the donation during a condolence visit to the state government, Dangote described the flood disaster as unprecedented but urged the victims to see the disaster as an act of God.

He said that it had become imperative for corporate organisations and public-spirited individuals to lend a helping hand.

Dangote further commended the federal government for its quick intervention through the National Emergency Management Agency which he said dispatched a search and rescue team to Ibaji Local Government to rescue victims and donated drugs, clothes and other items to the victims.

Dangote said he planned to empower 21,000 women in Kogi by giving them N10, 000 each to enable them start petty businesses.

He said the beneficiaries should be selected on the basis of 1, 000 women per local government, saying he had set aside N230 million for the scheme expected to take off in the next one month.

Dangote, along with the governor, later inspected some of the flooded parts of Lokoja and also visited some of the victims at their temporary camp at St Luke Primary School, Adankolo.

Responding, Wada described the gesture as overwhelming, adding that it was the largest donation received so far by the state government on behalf of the victims.

He said that the flood problem was of historical significance to the people of the state as many of them took things for granted.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2707-dangote-donates-n200m-to-flood-victims-in-kogi

At DeraSoft Clothiers, using local fabrics, we make the coolest kids' clothes that you rarely find in the market. She'll look fabulous and unique!

So, dress your little princess up in a way to make her stand out.

Check us out: http://www.derasoftclothiers.com.ng

A Geneva court has confirmed the sentence handed down to the son of former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha for belonging to a criminal organisation linked to looted assets charges.

Abba Abacha’s lawyers say their absent client will appeal.

On Thursday the Geneva Police Court rejected a medical excuse put forward by Abacha’s lawyers which they claim explained his absence from the long-awaited retrial.

“His absence is unjustified and he never asked to be represented by his lawyers,” the judge declared.

This absence meant opposition to his one-year suspended prison sentence for belonging to a criminal organisation handed down by the same court in summer 2010 was “deemed withdrawn”, the judge concluded.

During the hearing, Abacha’s lawyers presented a medical certificate from a Geneva doctor who had travelled to Nigeria to examine him, which stated that he was still unable to travel to Geneva. Abacha injured his back during a road accident in Nigeria several days before the retrial was due to open in July this year.

But based on separate independent medical conclusions, the judge declared Abacha had a minor injury and could have easily managed the air flight three months after his accident. Prosecutor Dario Zanni accused Abacha of “playing for time”.

Abacha did not appear before the court during the original 2010 hearing as he failed to get a visa in time.

The case was heard in his absence and he received a one-year suspended sentence. However, in March 2011 an appeal court quashed the verdict and ordered a retrial. It found that Abacha’s rights had been “seriously violated” because the case had been heard in his absence. The Swiss Federal Court backed the appeal court’s decision which led to Thursday’s retrial.

As part of the family structure set up by his father, 43-year-old Abacha was found guilty of helping to plunder the Nigerian treasury while Sani Abacha was in power in the 1990s.

The court ordered the confiscation of the sum – thought to be over $400 million (N100 billion) – which Abba Abacha stashed in the Bahamas and Luxembourg.

The Abacha clan is thought to have diverted a total of about $5 billion from the Nigerian treasury.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2687-swiss-court-upholds-abachas-sentence

The Nigeria Police College, Kaduna on Thursday said it found a robbery suspect among recruit constables undergoing training in the college.

The Commandant of the college, Alhaji Sanusi Rufai, told newsmen in Kaduna that the suspect was named by members of his gang after they were arrested by the police in Abuja.

The commandant said details of the suspect’s identity were forwarded to the college, which withdrew, arrested and transferred him to the appropriate police unit for investigation.

Rufai said the suspect was among 25 recruits the college disqualified for various inadequacies identified during training.

The commandant said some of the students were found to have presented forged school results and others had criminal records, “while some were withdrawn based on health grounds.

“Some of the recruits have sight or hearing challenges, while a few others did not attend the schools the certificates of which they presented.“

Rufai said the college would continue to screen “unfit persons” out to ensure that only those with good knowledge and character were allowed to train as policemen and women. More than 4,000 recruit constables are currently undergoing a 15-month basic training at the college.

More: http://www.channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2677-armed-robbery-suspect-caught-among-police-recruits

If Facebook was a country, it would have the third largest population, right behind China (1,347,350,000) and India (1,210,200,000), and ahead of the United States (314,500,000).

If steampunk Facebook existed in 1804 — precisely when the world population hit 1 billion — everyone on Earth would have a profile: Thomas Jefferson, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Jane Austen ... and every other living soul.

What may be more staggering than the "1 billion users" milestone is how quickly Facebook reached it.

"I don't think in the history of the world that there's been a single medium that's amassed a billion users as fast as Facebook did," Steve Rubel told TODAY.com. As vice president of all-encompassing public relations firm Edelman, Rubel is a well-regarded expert in the many ways we consume information, and what that means on a large scale.

Radio, television, even mobile phones — Rubel notes none of these were adopted at the rapid global rate comparable to Facebook's eight year rise. "Considering I struggle to think of anything that touches as many people as much as Facebook does," he said. "Maybe water ..."

The average Facebook user worldwide — now age 22 — would've been 14 when Zuckerberg famously launched the first version of Facebook in 2004. As the Aaron Sorkin-penned movie "The Social Network" depicts, thefacebook.com was first available only to Harvard students, before rolling out to other Ivy League schools in the U.S. and Canada.

Whether cunningly planned or by accident, exclusivity was a successful strategy. By opening first to upwardly mobile students, the word spread organically. Early Facebook offered a clean, well-ordered alternative to the glitter GIFs and chaos of MySpace, the the social media leader of the time. People wanted in.

So in 2005, Facebook opened its doors to high school students in the U.S. and six other countries, including Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia. And, in a politically savvy move, a few choice employees at high-tech companies including Apple and Microsoft were also invited to join.

Then, in 2006, your mom was allowed to join — along with everybody else age 13 and older. Things quickly got interesting.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2674-facebook-hits-1-billion-users

Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has said that the incessant summons on him to appear before different committees of the National Assembly were becoming too much to bear.

Speaking when he appeared before the House of Representatives Joint Committees on Finance, Legislative Budget and Research, National Planning and Aids, Loans and Debt Management over the 2013-2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) yesterday in Abuja, Sanusi said that no previous CBN governor had been so frequently invited like him. He told his hosts that his itineraries were being obstructed.

“I don’t think there has been any CBN governor that has been brought here (the National Assembly) as much as me. I have even offered to be moved, or open my annex office here. Nobody asks me how my itineraries are before inviting me.”

The CBN governor was responding to observations made by a member of the panel, and chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, Rep. Opeyemi Bamidele (ACN, Ekiti) who wanted to know why it was always difficult for the CBN governor to honour their invitation without making an issue out of it, or refusing to come at the appropriate date and time.

Sanusi was to appear before the joint committee on Tuesday but some high ranking officers of the CBN went instead, only to be turned back by the legislators who insisted that the CBN governor makes a personal appearance. He told the committee yesterday that he was not aware of the invitation.

Lead chairman of the joint committees Rep Abdulmumin Jibrin (PDP, Kano), said the panel had to insist that Sanusi appears in person because the Central Bank plays a very important role in the overall economic decisions of government.

“You must come and explain things to help our understanding of the fundamentals of our economic decisions,” Rep Jibrin said.

“You don’t devalue the institution of the National Assembly because it will outlive all of us.”

Sanusi then stroke a joke, saying he envied Rep. Abdulmumin’s position as the chairman of the committee because it wields a lot of powers, and that when he retires as CBN governor, he may consider contesting election for the House of Representatives.

Just yesterday the Senate also summoned the CBN Governor alongside the minister of finance Dr Igozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Accountant General of the Federation for allegedly withholding funds meant for the Petroluem Technology Development Fund.

The apex bank’s boss also denied having any rift with the National Assembly as being insinuated in some quotas saying, “I don’t have problem with you.”

It would be recalled that in 2010 Sanusi raised the alarm when he delivered a lecture at the University of Benin in which he said National Assembly members get 25 percent of Federal Government’s overhead vote.

The submission appeared to have marked the beginning of a very frosty relationship between him and the national legislators who are currently working on a bill to whittle down powers of the CBN governor.

Last year, the House also summoned Sanusi over the controversial cashless policy and the introduction of the non-interest banking system. However, Sanusi insisted and went ahead with the policies.

Also, in February this year, the CBN boss refused to submit the apex bank’s annual budget estimate to the National Assembly for legislative scrutiny as provided for by law.

He rather wrote a letter to the House committee on Banking and Currency on 10th February 2012, informing it that the National Assembly had donated its appropriation powers to the CBN board in the CBN Act of 2007 and as such he does not require the approval of the legislature to pass his budget.

Infuriated by Sanusi’s comments, the legislators increased their momentum to curtail the powers of the CBN by initiating amendments to the CBN Act 2007 to insert clauses that will compel the apex bank to forward its annual budget to the parliament. The amendment bills have since passed second reading in both Senate and House of Representatives.

As if that was not enough, during the investigative hearing on the “near collapse” of the Nigerian capital market by an ad-hoc committee led by Rep. Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi (PDP, Taraba), Sanusi again, refused to submit some documents requested by the panel arguing that the law does not compel him to do so.

Consequently, the committee recommended that he be charged to court for contempt of parliament. The report was adopted by the House in plenary on July 19th 2012. However, implementation lies squarely on the table of the President, who Sanusi work for.

Last month, the two chambers also banged their legislative hammer on the botched N5000 note and currency restructuring proposed by the CBN when they passed resolutions on September 18th asking President Jonathan to stop him from printing and issuing the new note. The president fainally acceded to the demand and suspended the plan.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2666-im-tired-of-national-assembly-summons--sanusi

About 6696 corps members posted to some states in northern part of the country have sought and secured redeployment to other states, mostly in the southern parts of the country.

Investigations by our correspondents revealed that out of the 13,226 corps members that were initially posted to Zamafara, Plateau, Gombe, Bauchi, Katsina, Kano and Kaduna State, during the last batch (batch B) of orientation, only 6530 representing less than 50 percent retained their initial postings to stay in the north.

The situation has left many affected states which normally rely on the corps members for teachers and medical personnel under difficulty, as they are made to cope without them.

The 6696 corps members who redeployed their services were said to have taken advantage of the directive to grant members seeking redeployment in highly volatile states posted to relocate to other parts in the country.

In Zamfara State about 50 percent of the corps members deployed to the state for the batch B of the 2012 NYSC have redeployed. Most of the redeployed corps members were from South-South, South-West and South-East geo-political zones of the country, our correspondent learnt.

Daily Trust gathered that larger percent of the redeployment were carried out at the headquarters of the NYSC in Abuja.

Zamfara State NYSC coordinator, Mrs. Ruth Bakka, said out of the 1945 corps members posted to the state, 819 of them have redeployed.

“Though we don’t have any security challenge here in Zamfara State, parents kept seeking redeployment for their children. So far, 819 have left while 58 new ones came in from other states. Zamfara is peaceful and we are praying that the peace be maintained,” she said.

The state commissioner of Information, Ibrahim Birnin Magaji described the situation as a serious challenge.

He said the mass relocation of corps members is having negative impact on the state because they have been assisting in schools and hospitals.

In Bauchi, the state NYSC coordinator, Mr. Nuhu Kwaghe refused to comment over the deployment issue. But a senior official of the NYSC said out of the 1, 352 batch B corps members posted to the state, 711 had sought and got redeployment. This figure represents more than half of the total number posted to the state.

The source said at the end of the orientation of the batct B, 411 corps members were redeployed to other states. But at the time he spoke to Daily Trust, he said the number had risen to 711.

Our correspondent in Kano reports that since January when the state came under attacks that left hundreds of people dead, many corps members have been making attempts to avoid being posted to the state. For those who were already posted over the months, most of them have relocated for security concerns.

Recently, more than half of the 2012 Batch ‘B’ corps members who were posted to Kano had relocated to their home states or to other states in the southern part of the country and Abuja for security reasons. This was confirmed by the state coordinator Alhaji Bashir Salisu Yakasai.

“Out of about 2,150’ corpers posted to Kano about 1,336 have relocated for security reasons. This constitutes about 55 percent of all the applications we received for relocation. The rest of the relocations were based on health, marital or other reasons,” he said.

In Plateau State, as at the time the Batch B orientation was being rounded off, 802 of the 1750 NYSC members posted to the state had asked for redeployment to other states. Thirty others later changed their mind to stay back, bringing down the number of those who opted out to 772, leaving 988 who were eventually deployed to 13 local government areas of Plateau State.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) did not post any corpse members to Jos North, Jos South, Barkin-Ladi and Riyom in keeping with the directive from the Federal Government that youth corps members should not be posted to parts of the country with prevailing history of communal violence.

In Katsina state, out of the 2, 330 corps members deployed to the state for the 2012 Batch ‘B’ NYSC exercise, 765 have relocated to other states, the NYSC state’s coordinator, Mr. Ebenezer Afolalu has said.

In Kaduna, about 40 per cent of the batch B corps members posted to the state have redeployed.

The Kaduna state coordinator of NYSC, Mrs. Victoria Ango, said out of 2499 corps members registered at the orientation camp in July, 1143 relocated, in August, only five relocated while currently in September, only two have so far relocated.

In Gombe State, mass redeployment of NYSC members posted to the state is taking a toll on the services of schools and health institutions.

Investigation by our reporter revealed that 1680 corps members mostly of southern origin were posted in batch B but 1200 have already redeployed their services to other states leaving no fewer than five hundred corps members.

However when contacted, the state coordinator of the NYSC Mr Teryima Manasseh Igyuse said, it’s not as if the state has been completely deserted by corps members as there are some who chose to stay and should be commended for doing so.

Mr Manasseh who confirmed the massive redeployment as well as its effect on the scheme blamed the recent House of Representatives resolution guaranteeing redeployment which he said is a blanket approval that stopped short of saying ‘don’t post corps members to some states’.

The case in Borno and Yobe states which have been saddled with Boko Haram challenges is even worse as over 90 percent of youth corps members in the last batch were said to have rejected their posting to the states, Daily Trust findings have shown.

The last four batches of NYSC orientation programmes were not held at the camps in Maiduguri for Borno State and Fika for Yobe State. Borno State corps members had their orientation in Benue State while those posted to Yobe State had theirs at Keffi in Nassarawa State.

NYSC officials in the two states have declined to speak on the actual number of corps members that agreed to serve in the state.

Meanwhile the headquarters of the NYSC in Abuja says corps members were free to relocate from states that experience crisis regularly.

Speaking to Daily Trust in Abuja, Director, Corps Mobilization, Mrs Mercy Kolajo, said, however, that the only criterion for corps members to redeploy from a state that is crisis free is either based on ill health or marital reason.

More: http://www.channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2641-insecurity-6696-nysc-members-reject-serving-in-the-north

Beloved countrymen and women, on this day, fifty-two years ago, our founding fathers brought joy and hope to the hearts of our people when they won independence for our great country. Nigeria made a clean break with more than six decades of colonial rule, and emerged as a truly independent nation. That turning point was a new beginning for our nation.

Those who witnessed the lowering of the Union Jack and the emergence of the Green White Green flag continue to relish the memory, because that ceremony was not just about the destiny of a nation, but the future of a people.

That future is here; we are the inheritors of a great legacy that goes even much farther into the past.

The worthy patriots who made this possible were young men and women in their twenties and thirties. They worked together to restore dignity and honour to the Nigerian people. Their resolve united a multicultural and multilingual nation of diverse peoples, with more than 250 distinct languages and ethnic groups.

In 1960, our diversity became a source of strength, and the new leaders resolved to carry the flag of independence for the benefit of future generations. They had their differences, but they placed a greater premium on the need to come together to build a new nation.

It is that resolve, and that glorious moment that we celebrate today. We also celebrate the patriotism of our heroes past: Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Michael Okpara, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Herbert Macaulay, and several others who made the case for our independence.

We remember as always, their contributions to the making of the Nigerian nation, and the efforts of their successors since 1960. We also celebrate the unfailing optimism and resilience of Nigerians who remain proud of our national identity.

On this special day, I call on every Nigerian to remain steadfast, because our nation is indeed making progress. I call on every Nigerian to rediscover that special spirit that enables us to triumph over every adversity as a people:

We weathered the storm of the civil war, we have refused to be broken by sectarian crises; we have remained a strong nation. I bring to you today, a message of renewed hope and faith in the immense possibilities that lie ahead.

Fellow citizens, I have an unshaken belief in the future of our great Country. I consider it a priority and sacred duty to continue to strengthen the bond of unity that holds our nation together and to promote and nourish the creative energies of our people. This is a central objective of our administration’s Transformation Agenda. Nigeria, I assure you, will continue to grow from strength to strength.

Since I assumed office as President of our dear country on the 6th of May 2010, I have continued to work with our countrymen and women to enhance our nation’s growth and development.

Our vision is encapsulated in the Transformation Agenda. We are working hard and making progress on many fronts. We have cleaned up our electoral process; our elections are now globally acclaimed to be free and fair. Nigeria is now on a higher pedestal regarding elections.

Over the past five years, the global economy has been going through a weak and uncertain recovery. During the same period and particularly in the last two years, the Nigerian economy has done appreciably well despite the global financial crisis. Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has grown by 7.1 per cent on average.

It is also significant that the GDP growth has been driven largely by the non-oil sector. In pursuance of the main goals of the Transformation Agenda, a number of reforms and initiatives are being pursued in key sectors of the economy with a view to consolidating the gains of the economic growth.

Our country’s power supply situation is improving gradually. We are successfully implementing a well-integrated power sector reform programme which includes institutional arrangements to facilitate and strengthen private-sector-led power generation, transmission and distribution.

We have also put in place a cost-reflective tariff structure that reduces the cost of power for a majority of electricity consumers. I am pleased with the feedback from across the country, of improvements in power supply.

We are continuing to improve and stabilize on our crude production volumes; our 12-month gas supply emergency plan, put in place earlier this year, has produced more than the targeted volumes of gas for power generation. A robust Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has been placed before the National Assembly. Its passage into law will ensure far-reaching reforms, transparency, accountability, increased government revenue and predictability for investors in the Oil and Gas sector.

Several government programmes and projects are creating wealth and millions of job opportunities for our youth and general population. Such programmes include: You-Win, both for the youth and for the women, Public Works, the Local Content Initiative in the Oil and Gas Sector, and the Agricultural Transformation programme.

We have improved on our investment environment; more corporate bodies are investing in the Nigerian economy. Our Investment Climate Reform Programme has helped to attract over N6.8 trillion local and foreign direct investment commitments.

Nigeria has become the preferred destination for investment in Africa. It is ranked first in the top 5 host economies for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Africa, accounting for over 20 per cent of total FDI flows into the continent. We have streamlined bureaucratic activities at the ports to ensure greater efficiency in the handling of ports and port-related businesses. Specifically, we have drastically reduced the goods clearing period in our ports from about six weeks to about one week and under. We have an ultimate target of 48 hours.

We have put in place, a new visa policy that makes it easier for legitimate investors to receive long stay visas. We have achieved a 24-hour timeline for registration of new businesses, leading to the registration of close to 7, 000 companies within the second quarter of 2012.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has disclosed that, as at July 2012, 249 new members across the country had joined the Association, and that capacity utilization has also improved. The multiplier effect of this development on our job creation programme cannot be over-emphasized.

In the last two years, we have put in place structures for an upgrade of the country’s health sector, to promote in every respect, the individual citizen’s right to quality, affordable and accessible healthcare.

In this regard, we are devoting resources under the Subsidy Reinvestment Program (SURE-P) to reducing malaria incidents, dramatically reducing maternal and child mortality, and eradicating polio.

Fellow Nigerians, in recent times, we have witnessed serious security challenges in parts of our country. We have taken pro-active measures to check the menace. This has included constant consultation and collaboration with our neighbours and other friendly nations on issues relating to internal and cross border security, and the sharing of information on smuggling and illegal dealing in small arms and light weapons.

Our security agencies are constantly being strengthened and repositioned for greater efficiency. Many Nigerians have acknowledged that there has been a significant decline in the spate of security breaches.

While expressing our condolences to the affected families, let me reiterate the commitment of this Administration to ensure the safety of lives and property of all Nigerians.

Even as we remain focused on the issue of security, the fight against the scourge of corruption is a top priority of our Administration. We are fighting corruption in all facets of our economy, and we are succeeding. We have put an end to several decades of endemic corruption associated with fertilizer and tractor procurement and distribution. We have exposed decades of scam in the management of pensions and fuel subsidy, and ensured that the culprits are being brought to book.

In its latest report, Transparency International (TI) noted that Nigeria is the second most improved country in the effort to curb corruption.

We will sustain the effort in this direction with an even stronger determination to strengthen the institutions that are statutorily entrusted with the task of ending this scourge.

I have given my commitment of non-interference in the work of the relevant agencies and I am keeping my word. What we require is the full cooperation of all tiers of government, and the public, especially civil society and the media.

This Administration has also introduced for the first time in Nigeria’s history, a Performance Contract System for all Ministers, and other officials of government. This is to further place emphasis on performance, efficiency, and service delivery.

Fellow Nigerians, our determined efforts on several fronts not-withstanding, our country still faces a number of challenges.

Those challenges should not deter us. In the last few weeks, for example, many of our communities have been ravaged by floods, resulting in the loss of lives and property, and the displacement of persons.

I want to reassure all affected Nigerians that I share in their grief, and our Administration is taking steps to address these incidents, in collaboration with the States and Local Governments.

I have received the interim Report of the Presidential team that I set up to assess the flooding situation across the country.

The Federal Government has taken measures to assist the affected States, while considering long term measures to check future reoccurrence.

We must continue to work together, confidently and faithfully, to ensure that our country’s potentials are realised to the fullest; that our dreams are translated into reality; and that our goals are achieved.

Let me reiterate that our administration is committed to the pursuit of fundamental objectives of an open society: the pursuit of freedom, security and prosperity for the Nigerian people, and the rule of law.

In the next few days, I shall lay before the National Assembly the 2013 Federal Budget Proposal so that deliberations can commence in earnest on the key policies, programmes and projects that will mark a decisive year for our development and transformation.

I have no doubt that by the time I address you on our next independence anniversary, many of our reform efforts would have yielded even better results.

Over the years, several leaders have built on the foundation laid by our Founding Fathers. The baton is now in our hands. Let me assure all Nigerians that we shall not fail.

I am confident that Nigeria will continue to be a source of pride to its citizens; to Africa and the Black Race and to humanity; a land that is known for progress, freedom, peace and the promotion of human dignity.

May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. May God bless you all.

Source: http://www.channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2637-president-jonathans-52nd-independence-speech

SOME security personnel have been named among those carrying out terrorist attacks in the country. The disclosure came from the confessions of a high-profile Boko Haram member arrested by the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Most of these personnel have been arrested, while security agencies are on the trail of others.

According to the JTF, the suspect, Ahmed Grema Mohammed, was apprehended at a checkpoint on the Maiduguri-Damaturu road while on his way to kill a former special adviser to the immediate past governor of the state.

Mohammed is an officer of the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) attached to the Nangere office of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Yobe State.

News of the arrest was contained in a JTF statement signed by the task force spokesman, Lt. Col Sagri Musa, and made available to The Guardian.

The statement said Mohammed had been on the wanted lists in the country. He was arrested on August 17, this year for impersonating a Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army.

The state read in part: “Mohammed confessed to be actively involved in the killings of some senior civil servants, security agents, and politicians in Damaturu who spoke against the activities of Boko Haram, particularly the former chairman of Damboa Council, Alhaji Lawal Kawu.

“He also took part in the attack on the old Police Headquarters in Damaturu, where some policemen were killed and large quantity of arms and ammunition carted away.

“In addition, he was among the terrorists that attacked Damaturu Prison, burnt some primary schools, the State CID office and the Police Safety Vehicle, among others.”

Musa added that the suspect has been an active member of the sect long before the crises of July 2009.

“The suspect revealed to JTF that he and 15 other members of the organization were intensively trained for three months on G3 and AK 47 rifles, as well as in assassinations and special operations in Niger Republic.

“He also revealed names of some security personnel that participated in terrorists’ attacks in Borno and Yobe states.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2629-suspect-names-security-personnel-in-terror-attacks

An ancient papyrus fragment which a Harvard scholar says contains the first recorded mention that Jesus may have had a wife is a fake, the Vatican said on Friday.

"Substantial reasons would lead one to conclude that the papyrus is indeed a clumsy forgery," the Vatican's newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, said in an editorial by its editor, Gian Maria Vian. "In any case, it's a fake."

Joining a highly charged academic debate over the authenticity of the text, written in ancient Egyptian Coptic, the newspaper published a lengthy analysis by expert Alberto Camplani of Rome's La Sapienza university, outlining doubts about the manuscript and urging extreme caution.

The fragment, which reads "Jesus said to them, my wife" was unveiled by Harvard Professor Karen King as a text from the 4th century at a congress of Coptic Studies in Rome last week.

Her study divided the academic community, with some hailing it as a landmark discovery while others rapidly expressed their doubts

"It's really pretty unlikely that it's authentic," University of Durham Professor Francis Watson told Reuters after he published a paper arguing the words on the fragment were a rearrangement of phrases from a well known Coptic text.

Watson, who has previously worked on identifying forged gospels, said it was likely to be an ancient blank fragment that was written over in the 20th or 21st century by a forger seeking to make money.

Watson argues the words on the fragment do not fit grammatically into a larger text.

"It's possible to get hold of an old bit of un-written on papyrus and write some new stuff on it," Watson said. "There is a market for fake antiquities throughout the Middle East ... I would guess that in this case the motivation might have been a financial one."

Read More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2623-qgospel-of-jesus-wifeq-fragment-is-a-fake-says-vatican