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Reps summon PTI Finance Director, Principal, others after ICIR investigation

Mustapha USMAN
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Reps summon PTI Finance Director, Principal, others after ICIR investigation

THE House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has summoned the Principal/Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Samuel Onoji, alongside its Director of Finance, Aliyu Mafindi, over alleged financial irregularities exposed by an investigation by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR).

The invitation was also extended to the Bursar and other relevant officers in the Institute.

In a letter, signed by the committee chairman, Bamidele Salam, the PTI was directed to appear before the committee on April 29, 2025, at the House of Representatives at 1:00 p.m.

The summon, made under Order XX, Rule 6 of the House Standing Orders and Section 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), mandates PTI management, including the Director of Finance and the Institute’s Bursar, to explain alleged violations relating to the utilisation of public funds, non-remittance of fees, and disregard for financial regulations.

The committee warned that attendance is mandatory, adding that failure to honour the invitation could result in a resolution against the institute without further recourse.

Speaking further with The ICIR on the development, Salam stressed that the meeting “is mainly on the report as well as a few other issues which are being unearthed.”

The development follows an investigation by The ICIR, which exposed how Mafindi orchestrated a  scheme that siphoned over N200 million from the institution since 2018. 

According to the report, Mafindi exploited oversight visits by the National Assembly committees, which, in several cases, never occurred, as a pretext to request and divert public funds into his personal and proxy accounts.

The ICIR reports that oversight visits by the National Assembly to government agencies are a routine. The visits often come with financial provisions for logistics, accommodation, and honoraria. The Petroleum Training Institute, like other agencies, regularly receives official letters from lawmakers planning oversight visits. 

Documents obtained by The ICIR revealed that large sums, including N21.85 million, N15.5 million, and N25.76 million between 2018, were disbursed for oversight visits that never took place. 

Payment vouchers showed that the funds were paid directly into Mafindi’s accounts in violation of Nigeria’s Public Sector Financial Regulation Act, which criminalises such actions.

Despite an internal probe by the PTI’s Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) at the end of his initial tenure in 2021, Mafindi was reappointed in 2023. 

The fraudulent activities continued into 2024, with the reappointment of Mafindi and Onoji’s emergence as the principal of the Institute.

In March and April 2024, N25.8 million and N43.4 million, respectively, were disbursed through proxies for supposed visits by the House Public Accounts and Public Procurement Committees, visits which lawmakers later confirmed never took place.

When contacted, the Chairman House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee, Bamidele Salam, denied any visits by the committee to the Institute since 2023.

On three different instances, as referenced by the Institute Finance Director that the public accounts committee would be visiting, Salam said neither he nor any of the committee members had visited the PTI-at least to the best of his knowledge and that of the House Clerk.

‘We never planned, proposed, or intended any visit to that Institute. There was absolutely nothing of such,” he said, reiterating that, “For the benefit of doubt, I restate again that this Institute has not featured in any of our hearings nor have we had any engagement with them in the last two years.

Nigeria records over 1,200 cholera cases in 3 months

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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Nigeria records over 1,200 cholera cases in 3 months

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that Nigeria is among the countries experiencing a surge in cholera infections globally, with 1,227 cases. 

According to the WHO’s latest data, between January and March 2025, Nigeria recorded 1,227 cholera cases and 28 deaths, ranking it among the most affected countries in the African region.

The ICIR reports that the latest WHO data is the first for 2025, following numerous cholera cases and deaths recorded across all Nigerian states in 2024.

In July 2024 alone, 63 deaths and 2,102 suspected cholera cases were reported across 33 of Nigeria’s 36 states.

The latest WHO situation report reveals that the African region has reported 66,689 cholera cases and 1,336 deaths across 17 countries, making it the hardest-hit region globally.

It showed that over 116,000 cases and more than 1,500 deaths were reported globally, with  32,985 new cases and 517 deaths reported in March alone,indicating a slight decrease from February.

“In March 2025 (epidemiological weeks 10 to 13), a total of 32,985 new cholera and/or acute watery diarrhoea cases were reported from 22 countries, territories, areas (hereafter countries) across three WHO regions, reflecting a nine per cent decrease from February.

Although the decline may reflect seasonal patterns, WHO warns that underreporting, especially in conflict-affected areas like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, likely means the true figures are much higher.

“The African region registered the highest number of cases, followed by the Eastern Mediterranean Region and the South-East Asia Region”, the report read.

South Sudan recorded the highest number of cases in the African region, with 29,050 infections and 502 deaths.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo follows with 15,785 cases and 297 deaths, while Angola has recorded 9,785 cases and 383 deaths.

WHO attributed the rise in cholera outbreaks to a combination of climate-related disasters, ongoing conflicts, poor sanitation, and weak healthcare systems, particularly in rural and flood-prone areas.

The ICIR reports that since January, 25 countries globally have reported outbreaks of cholera or acute watery diarrhoea, with many of these continuing from 2024.

Obi approves identity cards, online registration portal for ‘Obidients’

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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Obi approves identity cards, online registration portal for ‘Obidients’

FORMER presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has unveiled an online registration portal along with identity cards for members of his ‘Obidient Movement’, both within and outside Nigeria.

The announcement was made in a joint statement issued by the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, and the Director of Strategic Communications and Media, Nana Kazaure, on Saturday, April 26.

The statement highlighted that the goal is to demonstrate firsthand the embodiment of the Obidient Movement’s spirit of diversity, camaraderie, and unity, showcasing the widespread impact of its message.

It explained that the identity card, featuring a QR code in the bottom right-hand corner for authentication, will display the flag of the country where the holder resides.

It partly read: “Obidient registration portal supports Nigerians and fellow Obidients living in the diaspora. You will observe that the ID has a flag on it. For example, if you’re not a resident in Nigeria, the top right-hand corner will carry the flag of your country of residence.

“The OBX is constant on the ID card. The Diasporan and Nigerian cards all start with the same prefix, which is the OBX.

The statement also mentioned that to provide Obidients with a secure and reliable way to connect, the QR code in the bottom right-hand corner is designed to authenticate the card, and it can be scanned with any QR scanner, such as a smartphone.

“So if you choose to support or do business with an Obidient, you can scan the QR code or verify the OBX ID online to confirm that the person is who and what they truly say they are and are who they truly claim to be,” it added.

The ICIR reports that the Obidient Movement began with young people who are known for their strong-willed, independent-minded nature and their disdain for older politicians, whom they believe have done nothing for them, starting in 2022.

Obi’s support base during the 2023 election was so strong across the country among the youths that it was termed a movement.

In 2023, former Ebonyi State governor and current Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, said the ‘Obedient’ political movement is anchored on equity, justice, and fairness.

Does it cost just N500,000 to become doctor in Nigeria?

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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Does it cost just N500,000 to become doctor in Nigeria?

A comment by the Senior Pastor of Covenant Christian Centre, Poju Oyemade, claiming that medical graduates in Nigeria spend just N500,000 to complete their education, has sparked controversy across social media platforms.

Speaking during a sermon on April 13, Oyemade said Nigerians are being “programmed” on social media to hate their country despite the fact that it costs, for instance,  just N500,000 to study medicine and become a medical doctor in Nigeria.

While comparing the cost of medical education in Nigeria and US, the cleric said: “In Nigeria, a person will graduate as a medical doctor and spend N500,000 throughout to become a doctor. Throughout!

“In America, you graduate from Johns Hopkins and Harvard as a doctor, and you spend $2,000. Are you okay? Do you know how much money you spend. Nigerians are ungrateful,” he added.

CLAIM

Medical students pay only N500,000 to become doctors in Nigeria.

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE as N500,000 is not enough to study medicine and become a medical doctor in Nigerian Universities.

Since the assumption of office in May 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu introduced a series of economic reforms aimed at stabilising Nigeria’s economy, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira. However, these policies triggered significant inflation and a cost-of-living crisis. Educational institutions, heavily reliant on government funding and grappling with the soaring costs of goods and services, began reviewing their school fees upward.

By the last quarter of 2023, many government universities increased their fees, sometimes increasing it by 100 to 200 percent. The surge sparked widespread protests across the country, particularly in institutions like the University of Lagos, University of Jos, and Obafemi Awolowo University.

Although the federal government attempted to cushion the effects by launching a student loan scheme, many students and education stakeholders criticised the programme.

Medicine and Surgery, one of the demanding courses in Nigerian universities, was among the affected programmes. Typically under Colleges of Health Sciences in many Nigerian Universities, Medicine is a six-year course requiring access to specialised laboratories, clinical postings, medical equipment, and professional mentorship, all of which cost money.

The FactCheckHub reviewed the school fees of top Federal Universities in Nigeria since they are generally cheaper than state and private Universities, the result shows that the cost throughout the six years is above N500,000.

For instance, Obafemi Awolowo University charges for N190,200 for freshers and N128,200 for returning students. This means a medical student will spend N831, 200 as fees before graduating from the University.

In Bayero University of Kano, fresh medical students pay N171,300 as school fees while returning students pays N160,500. This means a medical student will pay N973, 800 as fees before the end of the programme.

In the University of Lagos, medical students pay averagely N190,250 per session. This means a student will pay an estimated N1.1 million to complete the course in the University.

At Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), the registration fees for the MBBS programme are structured across different levels. Fresh students (100 level) are required to pay ₦124,260.00. In 200 level, students pay ₦115,860.00, while in 300, 400, and 500 levels, the fee rises to ₦124,860.00 each year. In the 600 level, the amount increases to ₦140,160.00. So, excluding spillover, a student will pay ₦754,860 at UDUS throughout their studies.

It’s also worth noting that the figures for school fees do not include several other essential expenses such as hostel accommodation, textbooks and study materials, transportation, and costs associated with assignments, group projects, and seminars. These additional requirements substantially increase the overall cost of studying medicine.

Furthermore, the cost of medical education in private universities in Nigeria is significantly higher, largely because education in public institutions is subsidised. For example, tuition is free in federal universities. The Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate, recently stated that it costs over $21,000 to train a medical student, a figure that aligns with estimates from a peer-reviewed study by Osoba et al. (2021), published in the Pan African Medical Journal, which estimates the cost of training a doctor in Nigeria to range between $21,000 and $51,000—this includes tuition, living expenses, and other associated costs.

VERDICT 

The claim by Poju Oyemade that medical students spend only N500,000 to become doctors in Nigeria is FALSE. Findings show that, due to current economic realities, school fees alone can cost up to N1 million in Nigerian public universities.

This report is republished from the FactCheckHub.

FBI arrests 22 Nigerians for sextortion scheme linked to teen suicides

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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FBI arrests 22 Nigerians for sextortion scheme linked to teen suicides

THE United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested 22 Nigerians allegedly involved in a financially driven sextortion scheme, which has been linked to over 20 teen suicides in the country since 2021. 

In a statement obtained from its website, the agency revealed that the arrests were part of a groundbreaking global operation, codenamed Artemis, carried out in partnership with law enforcement agencies from Canada, Australia, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom.

The FBI said it launched Operation Artemis nearly two years ago after receiving thousands of reports of teen boys being coerced into sharing sexually explicit photos online and then extorted with threats of exposure unless they paid.

“As a result of Operation Artemis, FBI investigations led to the arrest of 22 Nigerian subjects, with at least one arrest linked to an American victim who took their own life,” the FBI said.

It explained that the sextortion schemes involve minors, typically boys, who are befriended online by individuals posing as young women, persuading them to exchange nude photos.

“Once the victims comply, they are demanded to send money to prevent the images from being shared,” it said.

Investigators highlighted that even after victims make payments, the demands frequently continue, and the threats intensify.

According to the FBI, the analysis of victims’ phones and social media accounts revealed heartbreaking narratives of young kids enduring panicked negotiations in bids to maintain their privacy.

FBI Special Agent Matthew Crowley interviewed suspects in Lagos State to gain insight into why they opted for sextortion instead of other financial scams, such as romance fraud or business email compromise.

“One subject said, ‘It’s easy money. I can just move on to the next one if I don’t get any traction,” Crowley reported.

She added, “It makes sense why they would go that route because they could target 40 victims in a day, working multiple at a time. And maybe of those 40, three pay. But if three paid $200, that’s $600.”

She explained the devastating impact of these schemes, citing an American father whose 16-year-old son took his own life in 2023 after being targeted by sextortion threats.

In response,  the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Zonal Commander,  Michael Wetkas, expressed hope that the collaborative effort would clamp down on all the people involved.

“We hope to get every single one of them. Because with the kind of collaboration that we have and the determination and commitment we have, I don’t see anything stopping us from getting these guys no matter where they are,” Wetkas said.

The ICIR reports that the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported more than 34,000 sextortion victims in 2023, a number that surged to over 54,000 in 2024, with financial losses amounting to nearly $65 million over the past two years.

The Australian Federal Police reported an average of 300 new sextortion cases each month in Australia, according to the statement.

Air Peace confirms flight turbulence mid-air en route Benin-Abuja

Ehime ALEX
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Air Peace confirms flight turbulence mid-air en route Benin-Abuja

AIR Peace has confirmed that one of its flights encountered turbulence mid-air en route Benin-Abuja on Friday, April 25.

The airline confirmed this in a statement on Saturday, April 26, by its head of corporate communications, Ejike Ndiulo.

He said the aircraft, flight P47171, was delayed in the air on Friday while heading from Benin to Abuja.

Ndiulo explained that during the aircraft’s descent into Abuja, the flight encountered turbulence due to adverse weather conditions, including thunderstorms.

“In line with global aviation safety standards, our crew activated appropriate safety protocols and held in a holding pattern until weather conditions improved,” Ndiulo said.

Recall,social media users had complained on Saturday that the aircraft hung in the air longer than necessary before landing.

Ndiulo, noted in a clarification response that no casualty was recorded while addressing the incident.

“We are pleased to confirm that the aircraft landed safely and the passengers disembarked normally. Air Peace is unwavering in its commitment to ensuring the highest standards of safety across all our operations,” he added.

The ICIR can report that when an aircraft is held in a holding pattern, it means the plane was instructed to fly a specific course around a designated point while waiting for permission from the control tower to proceed with its planned route, approach, or landing.

This is often due to factors like traffic congestion at the given airport, weather delays, or other operational issues that could result in an incident or accident if the aircraft had landed against instructions.

Air Peace,it would be noted had on Wednesday, April 23, suspended all its flight operations nationwide following a strike action embarked upon by workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

According to the airline, it is unsafe to fly without the availability of ‘QNH’ (hazardous weather) reports from NiMet, which is required for safe landings.

As a result, it suspended all its flight operations nationwide till the strike was called off on Thursday, April 24, stressing that the safety of passengers and its equipment were top priorities.

Flights to resume at Enugu Airport as FG announces re-opening date

Ehime ALEX
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Flights to resume at Enugu Airport as FG announces re-opening date

THE Nigerian government has announced the reopening of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu State for flight operations on Monday, April 28.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Obiageli Orah, announced this in a statement on Saturday, April 26.

She said the airport would be reopened following the completion of emergency runway repairs.

“The work was scheduled to begin on April 22nd and conclude before reopening on May 6th, 2025. However, rehabilitation works on the runway have been completed, and the runway is cleared for landings and takeoffs by the engineers working with FAAN,” Orah said.

While appreciating airport users for their understanding and cooperation during the period of runway repairs, she added, “The authority sincerely apologises for the inconvenience but assures the public that all actions were taken in the interest of safety.”

The ICIR had reported that the authorities of FAAN temporarily shut down the airport on April 19 to enable urgent repairs on a damaged part of the runway.

FAAN earlier planned that the emergency repairs would be conducted on the portion of the runway from April 22 to May 6, as a result, normal operations have been halted since then.

A few days after the shutdown of the airport, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, refuted some media reports that the Federal Government had agreed to a lengthy concession period for the Enugu airport. The ICIR had also reported.

He described the reports as untrue, explaining that though the federal government is considering proposals for the concession of five major airports, the report that it had agreed to a lengthy period of concession of the Enugu airport was “utterly baseless and untrue.”

Fake doctors, unlicensed hospitals face shutdown in FCT – Wike 

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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Fake doctors, unlicensed hospitals face shutdown in FCT – Wike 

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered a complete crackdown on unregistered hospitals and quack medical practitioners operating within the FCT.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the minister, Lere Olayinka, on Saturday, April 26.

Olayinka revealed that the minister issued the directive in response to the tragic death of a pregnant woman after undergoing a caesarean section at a private health facility in Durumi, Abuja.

The minister recounted that on Friday, April 25, 35-year-old Chekwube Chinagorom was brought to Asokoro District Hospital already dead.

According to him, she passed away after undergoing a caesarean section at an unregistered private hospital in Durumi, Abuja, which was operating under substandard and unsafe conditions.

He added that the baby was delivered alive and had been transferred to the Asokoro District Hospital for proper care.

He further revealed that an investigation conducted by the Private Health Establishments Registration and Monitoring Committee (PHERMC) revealed that the hospital was not duly registered.

“At the time of inspection, only one staff member, Simon Godiya, who identified himself as a Junior Community Health Extension Worker, was on duty,” the minister noted in the statement.

He further said that Godiya reported that the surgical operation was performed by one Murtala Jumma in conjunction with another unidentified individual.

The minister expressed regret that despite the free registration of pregnant women under the FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS), many were still not taking advantage of the opportunity.

“In the FCT, vulnerable persons, including pregnant women, enjoy free enrollment into the FHIS.

“This allows them free access to all services covered in the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services, through the Primary Health Care centres,” he noted.

He further warned that anyone caught running an illegal facility or working in an unregistered health centre would be arrested and prosecuted.

“Also, in alignment with the Federal Government’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ and the Wike-led FCTA’s zero tolerance for maternal mortality, several hospitals in the FCT, including Gwarinpa, Nyanya, Abaji, and Kuje General Hospitals, have been designated as Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care centres.

“These facilities also offer cesarean sections free of charge,” he said.

He advised pregnant women to make use of the free health insurance scheme and avoid seeking care from quack medical personnel and unregistered health facilities.

He further said that the case had been handed over to the police for further investigation.

“The Nigeria Police is currently assisting in identifying the individuals responsible for the surgery, verifying their qualifications, and investigating the circumstances that led to the death of Chekwube Chinagorom,” he said.

 

Trump, Zelensky meet on sidelines at Pope Francis’ funeral

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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Trump, Zelensky meet on sidelines at Pope Francis’ funeral

PRESIDENT Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday, marking their first physical encounter since a tense White House meeting in February.

A spokesman for the Ukrainian presidency, Sergiy Nykyforov, said the two leaders met briefly on the sidelines before the funeral mass began.

“The meeting took place and is already over,” Nykyforov told journalists without providing further details.

White House communications director, Steven Cheung, also confirmed the meeting, describing it as “a very productive discussion,” noting that more details would be provided later.

The ICIR reports that tensions have remained high since February 28, when Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticised Zelensky in the Oval Office, accusing him of being ungrateful for the billions of dollars in US military aid provided since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

However,  Trump and Zelensky agreed to collaborate and end the war with Russia in a phone conversation for the first time after the Oval Office clash.

While urging President Vladimir Putin to halt Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, Trump has recently blamed Zelensky for the war and the ongoing bloodshed.

Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 sparked a conflict not seen in Europe for decades.

Trump has also pressured Zelensky to accept once-unacceptable concessions, such as recognising that Crimea, which Moscow seized from Ukraine in 2014, will remain under Russian control as part of any deal to end the conflict.

Arriving in Rome late Friday, Trump called for a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders, citing what he described as progress in talks.

“They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to ‘finish it off’,” he posted on his Truth Social platform. “Most of the major points are agreed upon.” 

On Friday, Putin discussed the “possibility” of direct talks with Ukraine during a meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff.

However, Zelensky once again rejected suggestions that Ukraine surrender Crimea.

Witkoff’s meeting with Putin took place shortly after a top Russian general was killed in a car bomb attack outside Moscow.

An increasingly frustrated Trump threatened last week to abandon peace efforts if he did not see progress toward a ceasefire.

Last year, Trump promised to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours if elected president, though he clarified in a Time magazine interview this week that he was speaking “in jest.”

World leaders, thousands of mourners pay last respect at Pope Francis’ funeral

Ehime ALEX
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World leaders, thousands of mourners pay last respect at Pope Francis’ funeral

WORLD leaders and thousands of mourners are in attendance as the funeral ceremony of the late Pope Francis concludes at the Vatican on Saturday, April 26.

As of the time of filing this report, the body has been taken over the River Tiber to be buried in a tomb in Rome’s Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.

Thousands of people had gathered at the funeral, which took place in St. Peter’s Square and lasted about two hours. It was punctuated with an elaborate set of rituals at the square, six days after the first Latin American pontiff made his final public appearance for Easter.

Among the world leaders that graced the funeral are the United States President Donald Trump and his Ukraine counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.

Also at the funeral were Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Germany’s outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The ICIR earlier reported that Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, led the Nigerian delegation to honour the ceremony.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, one of the most senior figures in the Catholic Church, conducted the funeral mass celebration.

In his sermon at the funeral mass, the  91-year-old Italian Cardinal honoured Francis’s ability to lead with “an open heart towards everyone” describing him as a “pope among the people,” CNN reported.

Following his funeral at St Peter’s Square on Saturday, Pope Francis’s coffin was taken to the Vatican on a white popemobile.

Thousands of people lined the streets along the route as the coffin was driven across Rome to its final resting place at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.

The Argentine pontiff, who died on Monday aged 88, sought to steer the centuries-old Church into a more inclusive direction during his 12-year papacy.

The ICIR reported on Monday, April 21, that the Vatican announced the passing of the latter Pope Francis on Monday while the global Christian community continued the 2025 Easter celebration.

The Vatican’s Cardinal Kevin Farrell, while announcing his death in a statement, said, “Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis.

“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His whole life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.

“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the Triune God.”

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