These US lawmakers can’t afford decent accommodation but their Nigerian counterparts live in mansions

If we go to the point where you have to rent or have a house in Washington DC, then only millionaires would be members of Congress. I don’t think that was the intent of our founding fathers.

Those were the words of Dan Donovan (pictured), a US congressman who passes the night in his office because he can’t afford accommodation in Washington DC. Donovan is not alone, many of his colleagues also do this because of the lack of resources.

Just two months ago, Shehu Sani, lawmaker representing Kaduna central senatorial district, disclosed that he and his colleagues receive N13.5 million monthly as running cost.

He said the running cost was in addition to over N700,000 monthly consolidated salary and allowances.

Keith Ellison, a lawmaker who spends the night at parliament

Kristi Noem, Lynn Jenkins and Jaime Herrera Beutler are all female lawmakers but they are known to sleep  in their offices. Decrying poverty amid decade-long stagnant salaries and Washington’s steep cost of living, an increasing number of lawmakers have turned into professional squatters at night.

Meanwhile in Nigeria, the lawmakers not only sleep in choice properties in Abuja, some of them have mansions across the world.

According to a report by New York Post, out of the 435 representatives in the US, an estimate of around 100 members, including Paul Ryan, house speaker and Kevin McCarthy, majority leader, have turned into professional squatters at night in their offices while they shower at the congress gym.

Many of them previously got extra compensation, or a per diem, when they served in their home-state legislatures to cover their living expenses while at the state capitol. New York state lawmakers in Albany, for example, get $175 for each day they are in town. In other large cities such as Sacramento, California, the daily stipend rises to $183, and in Austin, Texas, it is $190.

But as members of the house, US reps receive a salary of $174,000 (N60.9 million) a year — a figure that hasn’t increased in nearly a decade — and no housing allowance, while working in a city where a sparse one-bedroom pad can start at $2,000 a month. Meanwhile, they also have to pay to maintain a residence in their home state.

“Members of the house and senate leadership seem to fare better, if only because they rake in nearly $20,000 more a year, or $193,400. There are few if any known examples of senators bunking down in their offices overnight,” New York Post said in its report.

Walz in the elevator outside the US House Members Gym in the Rayburn House Office Building.

Tim Walz, a member of the house of reps said, “I’m not complaining. It’s just figuring how to make all your finances work.”

Lee Zeldin said sleeping on a bed he stores in his office closet makes him more efficient but Adriano Espaillat said couch-crashing isn’t for him, even though he, too, faces a high cost of living back home in New York City.

“My couch is too hard. I’d wake up with a stiff neck every morning. I’m probably one of the poorest members of Congress,” Espaillat said.

The lawmaker from Buffalo said he used to split the rent for a basement apartment, paying $1,200 a month, but resorted to sleeping on a couch in his office when the college bills for his two kids began piling up.

Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west, with his fleet of cars inside one of his mansions

Some lawmakers who can afford apartments in DC are looking into a bill to prohibit politicians from turning their offices into makeshift sleeping quarters. In his reaction to the proposed ban, Austin Scott, a member of the house said, “I think it’s ridiculous. I can’t afford an apartment.”

However, the cost of a sparse one-bedroom pad starts at $2,000 (N700,000) a month.

The Nigerian senator takes home N14.2 million monthly, the addition of the monthly running cost, consolidated salary and allowances. With N170.4 million annual income, they cruise in posh cars and sleep in palatial homes. The N200 million constituency fund each lawmaker is entitled to is a story for  another day. - Cable Nigeria

IGP Idris: Saraki’s office releases list of killings in Nigeria in 2018

The ​office of the ​Senate ​President, Bukola Saraki ​​has released a list of killings over which it said it invited the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for interaction.

Idris had on three occasions refused to honour the invitation of the Senate.

On Thursday, ​Special Assistant to Senate President on International Relations, Bamikole Omisore, explained that Idris was summoned strictly over the spate of killings in the country​.

Omisore wrote: “This is the details of the killings in the country from Jan 1 to April 30 2018​.

“This is what the Senate wants the IGP to come before it to address.”

TIMELINE ON KILLINGS IN MIDDLE BELT SINCE JAN 1
· January 1 – 73 killed in Logo and Guma LGAs in Benue
· January 1 – 2 killed in Awe LGA, Nasarawa
· January 1 – 25 Killed in Keana LGA, Nasarawa
· January 3 – 3 killed in Markurdi, Benue State
· January 4 – 6 killed in Wukari in Taraba
· January 4 – 1 killed in Gassol LGA, Taraba
· January 5 – 4 Killed in Lau LGA, Taraba
· January 5 – 15 killed in Tse Akombo, Tse Vii and Tse Agule vilages in Benue
· January 6 – 55 killed in Lau LGA in Taraba State
· January 8 – 3 killed in Sardauna LGA, Taraba
· January 8 – Two policemen killed in Logo, Benue State
· January 13 – 10 killed in Birnin Gwari LGA, Kaduna
· January 13 – 1 killed in Makurdi LGA, Benue
· January 14 – 1 killed in Bassa LGA, Plateau
· January 14 – 1 killed in Ibi LGA, Taraba
· January 16 – 5 killed in Madagali LGA, Adamawa
· January 16 – 5 killed in Guma, Logo and Okpokwu LGAs Benue
· January 18 – 11 killed in Madagali LGA, Adamawa
· January 21 – 1 killed in Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau
· January 21 – 6 killed in Juman LGA, Adamawa
· January 23 – 9 killed in Ardo Kola, Adamawa
· January 24 – 4 killed in Kaiama, Kwara
· January 25 – 15 killed in Bassa LGA, Plateau
· January 26 – 3 killed in Bassa LGA, Plateau
· January 26 – 2 killed in Ukum, Benue
· January 29 – 1 killed in Guma, Benue
· January 31 – 1 killed in Jema’a LGA, Kaduna
· January 31 –9 killed in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna
· February 1 – 4 killed in Gassol, Taraba
· February 2 –10 killed in Song, Adamawa
· February 5 – 2 killed in Guma, Benue
· February 6 – 8 killed in Obi, Nasarawa
· February 8 – 6 killed in Shellen, Adamawa
· February 10 – 2 killed in Benue
· February 10 – 3 killed in Bassa, Plateau
· February 11 – 4 killed in Jema’a, Kaduna
· February 12 – 2 killed in Guma, Benue
· February 26 – 12 killed in Kajuru, Kaduna
· February 27 – 20 killed in Demsa, Adamawa
· March 1 – 15 killed in Saradauna, Taraba
· March 4 – 20 killed in Saradauna, Taraba
· March 5 – 25 killed in Okpokwu, Benue
· March 7 – 2 killed in Takum, Taraba
· March 8 – 11 killed in Bassa, Plateau
· March 9 – 9 killed in Bokkos, Plateau
· March 12 – 26 killed in Bassa, Plateau
· March 13 – 7 killed in Guma, Benue
· March 13 – 1 killed in Lokoja, Kogi
· March 14 – 32 killed in Daima/Omala, Kogi
· March 14 – 6 killed in Bassa, Plateau
· March 15 – 5 killed in Takum, Taraba
· March 19 –10 killed in Omala, Kogi
· March 20 – 11 killed in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna
· March 22 – 3 killed in Jos South, Plateau
· March 24 – 5 killed in Makurdi, Benue
· March 30 – 6 killed in Jema’a, Kaduna
· April 4 – 6 killed in Chikun, Kaduna
· April 4 – 4 killed in Takum, Taraba
· April 4 – 10 killed in Gwer West, Benue
· April 5 – 5 killed in Dobga, Taraba
· April 5 – 30 killed in Gwer West, Benue
· April 5 – 50 killed in Offa, Kwara*
· April 7 – 4 killed in Bali, Taraba
· April 7 – 2 killed in Agatu, Benue
· April 8 – 5 killed in Birkin Ladi, Plateau State
· April 8 – 5 murdered in Obi, Nasarawa
· April 8 – 4 killed in Keana, Nasarawa
· April 9 – 1 killed in Guma, Benue
· April 10 – 10 murdered in Benue
· April 10 – 51 killed in Wukari, Taraba
· April 12 – 2 killed in Markudi, Benue
· April 12 – 2 murdered in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna
· April 13 – 5 killed in Bassa, Kogi
· April 14 – 4 killed in Logo, Benue
· April 14 – 78 murdered in Obi, Nasarawa
· April 17 – 1 killed in Logo, Benue
· April 18 – 4 killed in Bassa, Plateau
· April 19 – 1 killed in Kutigi, Niger
· April 19 – 1 killed in Gwer West, Benue
· April 20 – 31 killed in Guma, Benue
· April 25 – 19 killed in Gwer East, Benue
· April 25 – 38 killed in Guma, Benue
· April 25 – 7 killed in Awe, Nassarawa
· April 28 – 14 killed in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna
· April 29 – 5 killed in Gwer West, Benue
* Offa killings were from multiple armed robberies on banks in the town. - Daily Post

PL news : Arsenal suspend two coaches following bullying allegations

Arsenal have suspended two under 23 coaches who have been alleged to have led a bullying culture at the club, reports the Islington Gazette.

Steve Gatting, the head coach of Arsenal’s under 23s and Carl Laraman, were not at the Premier League International Cup final against Porto on Tuesday after being suspended due to the allegations.

Marcus McGuane, a highly rated youngster at Barcelona currently playing for their B side, left the Gunners in January and it is believed they were part of the reason.

McGuane became the first Englishman to feature for the Catalan club since Gary Lineker when he came off the bench during a cup game in March.

An Arsenal spokesman confirmed that they were suspended due to accusations of bullying:

“We have suspended two coaches and launched an investigation following complaints from some players.”

It is believed nobody higher up, including Arsene Wenger, knew anything about the bullying, but the two are expected to leave their roles should the claims be found to be true. - Read Sport

46-year-old herbalist arraigned for allegedly macheting cousin

A native doctor, Surajudeen Adeniji, charged with macheting his cousin during an argument, was on Friday granted reprieve by a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

The accused, who is facing a two-count charge of conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and inflicting injury.
He, however, denied the charges. Police Insp. Ben Ekundayo, the prosecutor, told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 24 at No. 11, Oduntafa St, Lagos Island.

He said the accused had built a shrine at the entrance of the only toilet and bathroom in the compound of their family house and during a visit to the toilet he had a brush with the herbalist.
“While the accused’s cousin, Kudus Olawale, was in a hurry to go into the toilet to ease himself, he mistakenly stepped on the mat the accused placed on the floor for his customers.

“An argument ensued and the accused brought out a machete and injured him with it,” Ekundayo said. The offences contravened Sections 166 and 245 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 245 stipulates three years imprisonment for offenders.
In her ruling, Magistrate Olumide Fusika granted the accused N50,000 bail with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until May 31 for hearing

Woman divorces husband for starving her sex for 2 years

The five-year-old marriage between a 35-year-old trader, Bilikisu Azeez and her husband, Olusesi, was on Friday dissolved by an Igando Customary Court in Lagos on grounds of sex-starvation.

Bilikisu had told the court that her husband, Olusesi, starved her of sex for more than two years, a development which, she said, had affected her health.

“My husband has been starving me of sex since he married his youngest wife; he has turned me to an abandoned property.

“I have been falling sick in and out of hospital, during my last visit to the hospital, I was told that it was because I have not had sex for long that is why I experience frequent sickness.”

She also accused her husband of not caring for her and the only child of the marriage, saying “my husband does not take care of me, I feed and clothe myself.

“He refused to enroll our only child, who is over four years old in school and has failed to pay his medical bills; I always run to my mother for the hospital bill.”

Bilikisu, who also accused her husband of battery, said he had beaten her publicly which resulted in her fainting.

According to her, the trouble started when her husband brought in a third wife.

She continued: “There was joy, love and peace in the house until he came with another wife, who has been fighting me also.”

She urged the court to dissolve the union so that she can move on with her life.

Olusesi, in his response to the allegations, accepted that he starved the woman of sex.

“She once denied me of sex and since then I abandoned her.

“Yes, I starved her of sex, it is tit for tat because there was a day I entered her room to sleep with her and she left the bed to sleep on the floor.

“I made an attempt eight times to sleep with her, but she refused. So since that day, I just put her aside after all she is not the only wife I have,” he told the court.

The 45-year-old building contractor also consented to the dissolution of the marriage, saying he too was no longer interested in the marriage.

The court president, Mr Akin Akinniyi, while delivering the judgment said that it appeared that the estranged couple were tired of the marriage as all efforts to reconcile them had failed.

“Since both parties consented to the dissolution of their marriage, this court has no choice than to dissolve the marriage.

“The court hereby pronounces the marriage between Mrs Bilikisu Azeez and Mr Olusesi Azeez dissolved today.

“Both of you henceforth cease to be husband and wife, each of you should go on his or her separate ways unmolested.

“The court wishes both of you well in your future endeavour. Any squabble between both of you from now on shall be treated as criminal.

“Any violation of this judgment will be regarded as contempt of court and will attract imprisonment without option of fine,” Akinniyi ruled.

Life jail: Man breaks court windows, stabs self in Ekiti

There was drama at an Ekiti State High Court on Friday after one Ajewole Dada Fulani was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape.

Ajewole, 24, was standing trial for robbing, kidnapping and raping two female students of the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti on 7th November, 2015 along Ikere-Igbara Odo Road.

The verdict was handed down by Justice John Adeyeye who held that the prosecution has proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

The convict became emotional, furious and restless after the judgment was interpreted to him by the court registrar.

Ajewole thereafter hit the court window and broke the louvers and stabbed himself with it and attempted to stab other people inside the courtroom.

It took the intervention of security personnel who grabbed the convict from wounding more people inside the court.

He was subsequently handcuffed and bundled into a waiting Black Maria. Court workers, litigants and other observers were shocked by the convict’s bravado.

Ajewole, on the day of the incident, conveyed the two College students in is commercial vehicle but diverted the vehicle to the bush, tied them to a tree and raped them one after the other.

The victims later escaped from the scene and reported the incident at the Ikere Main Police Station along College Road.

Ajewole was first arraigned at an Ado-Ekiti Magistrate’s Court but the case was transferred to the High Court after an advice from the office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

He appeared for the first time at the High Court on 16th November, 2016.

To prove the case, the DPP, Mr. Gbemiga Adaramola, called four witnesses and tendered exhibits which included the accused’s statement and his vehicle with registration number EMR 218 XA.

The accused called two witnesses to support his denial of the offence.

The court after listening to the oral argument of Adaramola and defence counsel, Sunday Ochayi

Justice Adeyeye ruled: “The prosecution has not proved the essential ingredients of the offence of robbery against the accused.

“In conclusion and for the avoidance of doubt, the accused was found guilty of the offences of kidnapping and rape as charged in Counts 1,2 and 3 and he is accordingly convicted to life imprisonment.” - The Nation

YEAH ! Saraki’s Senate worst in Nigeria’s history – Sagay

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), said on Thursday he could not wait for the current Senate, which he described as the worst since 1999, to go next year.

He faulted the lawmakers’ insistence on the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris’s personal appearance before them.

According to Sagay, such move smacked of personal vendetta against the IGP.

The PACAC chief, who said he was not a fan of the current Senate, accused the red chamber of abdicating its responsibilities by its refusal to pass the 2018 budget almost halfway into the year.

He told the Nation Newspaper: “You know I have never been impressed by this Senate. It’s probably the worst we have ever had since the return to civilian rule. They are more concerned about exercising vain authority and power than in actually doing anything substantive for the country.

“These are people – the whole Senate – who would adjourn sitting and go to the Code of Conduct Tribunal in solidarity with their President. For everyday they go, the work of legislation is suspended. And they owe a duty to this country to make the laws for the order, peace and good government of Nigeria.

“Each time they abandon their legislative duties, they’re in fact committing a breach of their obligation, apart from the fact that doing that sort of thing is infantile.

“As if that was not enough, the whole Senate packed themselves again to visit Dino Melaye in the hospital. How rational is that? Why can’t they send a delegation of two or three people who would report back? So, it’s like a showoff of power and intimidation. I don’t think it’s really worthy of them to behave like that.” - DAILY POST

Mega city ! Mega legalised crime !! Four feared dead as police, task force storm church in Lagos

Four persons were feared yesterday when the Lagos State Task Force on Land Grabbers led by the police stormed a church in Makoko, Yaba.

The task force, some hoodlums and the police were said to have stormed The Act of Apostle Church over a land dispute. They reportedly came with over 30 police vans from different divisions, including Adekunle and Ikeja

They allegedly broke down the fence of the church, and set its hall ablaze. They were said to have shot sporadically, leaving many injured. Four of the injured were said to have died at press time.

Residents milled last night discussing the incident. Some were in tears.

Many of the white chairs in the church and speakers were burnt. The ceilings and windows were broken. A tricycle parked in the church compound was also burnt and the glasses of some cars were destroyed. Broken bottles also littered the streets.

Some residents blamed the task force, the hoodlums and the police for all the damage.

The body of Kolawole Iwalokun was brought to the community around 5pm. He was said to have died where he was being treated. Some members of the community brought his body to the church, but the police wanted to go away with it. The police shot and sprayed tear gas; people ran away. Bullets were over Kolawole’s body.

The Nation learnt that some members of the community fought back as they stoned the police.

An eye witness, Nejo Olanrewaju, said he was in his house around 10am when he saw an expectant mother running into the passage of his house.

“I came out of my room and saw many policemen with some hoodlums carrying guns, cutlasses and other weapons in front of the church. I walked up to them and asked what their mission was. One of them told another to throw me into the task force van; I told them they cannot do that to me. We engaged in a little strife and one of the officials said I should be released.

“The next thing I saw was that they started shooting, not into the air but sporadically. They shot into every direction; a lot of people were affected. I rushed to the community head to see what I could do to help. The whole place was destroyed, many people died.”

Another resident, Levi Ipense, said he ran back from school when he heard of the incident.

He said: “When I got here, I saw over 50 policemen, with hoodlums and touts with guns, charms and cutlasses. The hoodlums were in task force uniform. I heard gun shots and saw blood stains, many people are dead.

“Kolawole Iwalokun, 40, Junior Olaranmoye, in his 20’s is dead. Kolawole is married with children, he is a businessman. Junior is a fashion designer

“A lot of people were injured; the injuries sustained were bad. They were chasing us; we did not argue with them when they first came. It was when we saw that they had burnt the church that we had to retaliate. Being youths, we were annoyed. It was the police that set their station ablaze; they did this to use it against us. They also broke the fence of the police station.

According to him, what the police came to do is illegal.

An Executive in the church, Bamidele Ogunmayi, said a land issue led to the crisis.

“The police have done badly, they have supported area boys, killed four of our people, about 20 of our youths are injured with gunshots, and they are receiving treatment. They have burnt our church, broken our fence. We do not know the interest of the police in land matters. They have impinged on our fundamental right; they also arrested some of our youths.

“The police were about 50, the land grabbers and hoodlums were about 30 and were in the task force uniform. The police broke our fence, when the youths wanted to ask them what the matter was, they started shooting. We want justice against the people that violated our human right,” Ogunmayi said. - The Nation

Let’s shut down the senate! By Fredrick Nwabufo

The Nigerian senate, a pivot in the tripod of democracy, has become comfortably ineffectual and grossly spineless. What we have now is just an institutional skeleton, without blood or muscle. So, why should we still keep it?

That the senate is today a magnet of scorn, derision and insults is of its own making. The upper legislative chamber got hoisted by its own petard.  As matter of fact, the senate is the most hated of all government institutions, and it is fast losing relevance.

However, I will not vacillate in saying that the executive and its underlings have worked successfully in reducing the upper legislative chamber to a colourless-cardboard box.

I am not surprised that Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police, unabashedly insulted the senate. That arm of the legislature had it coming. Whenever the institution backtracks in the smoulder of executive pressure, the result will be repudiation and humiliation.

I remember in 2016, during the senate- Customs Chief Hameed Ali face-off, the institution made all the right noises, but at the end of day it interred the matter after pressure from the executive; I may even add, “after breaking bread with the executive”. The reason for the senate’s angst was the decision of the customs management to seize licensed vehicles without/with forged papers on all roads. As you read these lines, nothing came out of the senate’s intervention, but citizens with “vehicle papers” are still being harassed by customs officers on roads across the country.

Also, the senate does itself in when it passes “resolutions” without an effective mechanism to have them implemented.  There have been many resolutions, but the senate has lacked the canine to extract implementation from the executive.

Sometimes, when the senate takes the side of the people on a policy or government decision, it quickly re-aligns itself with the executive for political ends. It is this reason that Nigerians have stopped taking the institution seriously.

Nigerians have called for the scrapping of the senate a number of times, though some of the campaigns against the institution are sponsored, there are still genuine concerns.

The senate will have to take itself seriously for Nigerians to give it back its lost shine. At the moment, citizens ask, “What the h..ll is the senate?”

Fredrick is a writer, journalist and media entrepreneur

He can be reached on Twitter: @FredrickNwabufo, Facebook: Fredrick Nwabufo

I always wanted to prove Chelsea wrong - Salah

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah revealed his desire to prove critics wrong from his time at Chelsea had motivated him this season.

Salah has scored 43 goals in all competitions this campaign, leading Liverpool to the Champions League final.

The 25-year-old collected Liverpool's Player and Players' Player of the Season awards on Thursday, as well as the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year prize.

Salah has dominated the Premier League after an unsuccessful stay at Chelsea, who had the Egypt international on their books from 2014-16.

The superstar forward said he always wanted to return to England to silence his critics.

"I was here like four years ago and a lot of people said he couldn't [have] success, that I cannot play in the Premier League, [that] it was very difficult for him," Salah said.

"So it was always in my mind to come back. From the first day I left Chelsea, it was always in my mind to make them wrong.

"I made them wrong."

Liverpool are close to sealing a top-four finish in the Premier League ahead of hosting Brighton and Hove Albion on the final day on Sunday. - Goal

Health sector crisis deepens as doctors oppose JOHESU’s equal pay demand

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has threatened to go on strike if a key demand of the striking health workers under the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) is met.

The health workers are asking, among other things, to be at par with doctors in terms of salary — which the NMA said is “callous and ill-motivated”.

The JOHESU strike, which has been ongoing since April 17, has seen patients stranded at federal health institutions across the country, with state and local government health workers also recently joining the industrial action.

NMA said on Thursday that acceding to the demand of salary parity with their counterparts in the health union will be against the agreement they had with the federal government which led to the suspension of their strike action in 2014.

A statement issued by Francis Faduyile, NMA national president, said: “The NMA wishes to draw the attention of the federal government to our correspondence of April 21, 2014 on the above, in which we reminded government of the collective bargaining agreement we had with the federal government of Nigeria in January 2014.

“It is also pertinent to once again remind government about the concluding part of our letter no. NMA/PRE/SG/03/0751 of 21st March 2014, which states, ‘In view of the above, the NMA painfully wishes to inform the federal government of Nigeria that any award to the non-medically qualified health professionals that violates the January and July agreements of 2014 shall result in the resumption of the suspended withdrawal of service of 2014. Please take this as a notice sir.”

NMA said it opposes “vehemently” any adjustment that will lead to pay parity between doctors and healthcare professionals as well as JOHESU’s demand for professional autonomy which it said is “part of the fight for professional ego”.

The association said: “Rather than accede to a demand that will lead to more preventable deaths, we urge the federal government to implement the recommendations of the Yayale Ahmed Committee on professional harmony in the health sector.”

The federal government had earlier rejected the health workers’ demand to be at par with the doctors in terms of salary, saying it is not practicable. - Cable Nigeria