Former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has mourned the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis.

In a statement personally signed by him, Kalu who is the lawmaker representing Abia North Sensorial District, described Pope Francis as a beacon of hope, peace, and humility whose papacy touched billions of lives across the globe.

“The passing of Pope Francis is a monumental loss to the Christian faith and the world at large. He was a true shepherd of peace, love, and compassion. His messages of unity and selfless service resonated deeply with both the faithful and those outside the Catholic Church,” Senator Kalu said.

The lawmaker, who is a devout Catholic, recalled the Pope’s commitment to justice, inclusion, and service to humanity, noting that his teachings will continue to guide the church and the world for generations to come.

“As we mourn the loss of this great spiritual leader, we pray for the repose of his soul and for strength to the global Catholic community during this difficult time,” he added.

Senator Kalu extended his condolences to the Vatican, the Catholic faithful, and all those touched by the exemplary life and ministry of Pope Francis.

A foremost human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN Femi Falana who has faulted the Supreme Court judgment on Rivers State political case that restored the 27 State lawmakers to dared the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to report him to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee.

This was even as Falana was said to have analysed the judgment and faulted the apex Court over its decision on the political crisis.

Falana in a statement titled: “I did not lie against the Supreme Court of Nigeria”, insisted on his analysis and accused Wike of attempt to incite the apex Court against him.

The lawyer dismissed Wike’s threat as “spurious and tendentious in its material fact”, stressing that he did not misrepresent the Supreme Court’s decision on the defection of 27 Rivers State Assembly lawmakers loyal to Wike.

Falana in the statement released on Monday reacted to FCT Minister’s public criticism of him during a media conference in Abuja which was widely aired on Channels and other popular media outlets.12 April 2025

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It was recalled that Wike claimed Femi Falana, a senior lawyer misrepresented the Supreme Court’s ruling and threatened to report him to the disciplinary arm of the body of lawyers in Nigeria.

Wike said, “If someone of Femi Falana’s calibre can go on national television and lie, it’s very serious. Lies can cause a lot of crises.”

Reacting further, Falana noted that Wike’s response to his analysis was scurrilous particularly for telling the public that he lied on the defection of the 27 Rivers State lawmakers.

Falana said, the issue on defection which is pending at the Federal High Court in Portharcourt before the Supreme Court made its ruling calls for concern.

Part of the statement read“I did not lie against the Supreme Court in respect of the judgment in question. All I said was that the matter of the defection of the 27 legislators was raised suo motu and determined by the eminent Justices of the apex court.”

Falana said he hinged his analysis on video evidence and sworn affidavit of the defection of 27 lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, adding that his right to criticize the Supreme Court on its decision was provided in the Constitution and international human rights law.

“My fundamental right to criticise the decisions of courts is guaranteed by Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,” he said.

He accused Wike of hypocrisy, reminding of attacking Justices of Courts if the case wasn’t in his favour.

Falana added, “Unlike Mr. Wike, who calls judges names whenever they disagree with his politics of opportunism, I have always criticised the judgments of domestic and regional courts with utmost decorum and in good faith.

“Since he has become the unsolicited defender of the judiciary, I challenge him to report me to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for professional misconduct,” Falana said.

The Senate is to resume plenary from Sallah and Easter recess on May 6, a week after the initial date of resumption on April 29, 2025.

The new date was contained in an internal memo issued to the leadership of the 10th Senate dated 20th April, 2025 and sighted by CAPITAL POST on Monday in Abuja.

The memo which was signed by the Clerk, Andrew Ogbonna Nwoba addressed to all Senators was to guide them wherever they are during the recess.

The memo said it becomes unavoidable to shift the earlier date to a new date due to the celebration of the International Workers’ Day public holiday, which is celebrated on May 1 which was not envisaged at the time of recess.

This will allow Senators to take their time to attend to key constituency engagements.

The circular reads, “Distinguished Senators, I am directed to inform you that the resumption of plenary sittings of the Senate, earlier scheduled for Monday, 29th April 2025, has been rescheduled to Tuesday, 6th May 2025.

“This postponement is made to allow Distinguished Senators to stay with their constituents during the International Workers’ Day public holiday in the first week of May and to further enhance constituency engagements.

“Distinguished Senators are kindly requested to take note of this postponement while regretting any inconvenience the change might have caused.”