More questions and growing calls for a comprehensive and independent investigation have continued to trail the death of 26-year-old Mary Habila at the Ebonyi residence of the Minister of Works, David Umahi.
Habila, who her father described as the minister’s personal nurse, reportedly died on June 27, and her body was found inside a room in one of the buildings within the minister’s country home in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Her death, however, did not come to public attention until July 11, nearly two weeks later, when Sahara Reporters first reported the incident.
Although Umahi has denied any wrongdoing or foul play and, through his lawyers, called for a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death, the deceased’s father has approached the Ebonyi State High Court seeking to stop the police from carrying out an autopsy and discontinue further investigation into the case.
The family’s position has sparked fresh controversy, with lawyers arguing that it runs contrary to established criminal investigation procedures, particularly where the circumstances surrounding a death remain unclear.
Meanwhile, pressure has continued to mount on the authorities to ensure an independent investigation.
Lawyers, rights activists, social media users and other Nigerians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have urged the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the investigation from the Ebonyi State Police Command to the Force Headquarters to guarantee transparency and public confidence.
Atiku also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct Umahi to temporarily step aside as Minister of Works pending the outcome of investigations, arguing that such action would allow an independent probe free from perceptions of interference.
“This is not a punishment; it is the minimum standard of public accountability in any serious democracy,” Atiku said.
“No official under this cloud should preside over a federal ministry as though it were business as usual.”
Meanwhile, Daily Trust gathered that Habila’s burial, earlier scheduled for today, has been postponed indefinitely.
An obituary poster circulating online indicated that she was to be buried at the Deeper Life Bible Church, Nok, in Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State. However, family sources confirmed that the burial would no longer hold as scheduled.
Henry Marah, member representing Jaba Constituency in Kaduna State House of Assembly, also confirmed the postponement of the burial.
Although no official reason was given, the postponement comes amid the police’ insistence that investigations would continue despite the family’s request for the release of the body.
DPP’s legal advice
A legal advice reportedly issued by the Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice also highlighted unresolved questions surrounding the cause of Habila’s death.
In the advice signed by J.U. Chukwu, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department, the ministry acknowledged the family’s request but noted that critical issues remained unanswered.
The DPP advised the police to “invoke their discretionary power to either respect the request of the deceased’s family or proceed with the post-mortem examination.”
The legal advice listed observations made during the preliminary investigation, including that Habila was alone when she was found dead in her room.
It further stated that she was discovered lying lifeless on the floor, naked, with blood stains around her nose and mouth.
The DPP also noted that available evidence suggested she had not been ill before her death.
“That there was no evidence that the deceased was indisposed, sick or unstable health-wise prior to her sudden death, as she was full of life at the time she returned to Uburu in company of her team,” the advice stated.
It concluded that the circumstances naturally raised questions requiring scientific investigation.
“The question that would readily come to mind is what exactly caused the deceased’s sudden death? This curiosity under the law can only be resolved through a post-mortem examination, so as to provide a clue to the police as to the direction of their investigation.”
Father rejects autopsy, seeks end to investigation
In an affidavit deposed to on July 13, Habila’s father, Tanko Habila, urged the court to order the police to discontinue the investigation and release his daughter’s remains for burial.
While expressing appreciation for efforts to determine the cause of death, he insisted that neither he nor his family would consent to an autopsy.
“While I welcome steps being taken to unravel the cause of my daughter’s death, my family and I will not accept any autopsy,” the affidavit stated.
The affidavit also revealed details of Habila’s employment.
It stated that she was a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences who had been seconded to the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja about three years before her death.
According to the affidavit, she served as the minister’s personal nurse and was among his immediate staff, residing at the minister’s guest house in Abuja and at the staff quarters in Ebonyi whenever official duties required.
The father further appealed that the family wished “to leave her body and organs intact” and therefore opposed both the autopsy and further investigation.
He added that he did not intend to honour any future invitation by either the police or the court because the family did not suspect foul play.
“I was never induced, coerced or influenced in any way by anybody to make these depositions,” he added
Family cannot stop autopsy, says lawyer
Legal practitioner and rights activist Hameed Jimoh, however, said the family lacks the legal authority to prevent the police from conducting an autopsy where circumstances surrounding a death warrant criminal investigation.
He explained that the investigation of suspicious or unnatural deaths falls within the statutory responsibility of the police and is ultimately a matter between the state and society rather than a private family affair.
“Criminal investigation in cases of alleged murder or suspicious death is the sole responsibility of the police,” he said.
“The government has obligations under international human rights law to respect, protect and fulfil the right to life. Therefore, where the loss of life of a citizen is involved, the matter becomes one for the state.”
According to him, an autopsy remains one of the recognised forensic tools available to investigators in determining the cause and circumstances of death.
“In my humble opinion, the family has no legal capacity to stop either the investigation or an autopsy where it is considered necessary.”
Atiku, Sowore seek independent probe
The controversy has continued to attract reactions from political leaders and rights advocates.
In a statement personally signed and posted on Th ursday, Atiku accused the federal government of failing to demonstrate sufficient urgency in handling the matter.
“Th e government’s first duty is the protection of life. Where a life is lost in circumstances touching a high official of state, the burden on government to act transparently is at its heaviest,” he said.
He argued that the prolonged delay in conducting an autopsy nearly three weeks after Habila’s death had further eroded public confi dence.
Th e former vice president demanded four immediate steps.
First, he said President Tinubu should direct Umahi to step aside pending the conclusion of investigations.
Second, he urged the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the
investigation from the Ebonyi State Command to Force Headquarters with the involvement of independent forensic experts.
Th ird, he called for what he described as “a full, independent and internationally credible autopsy” whose findings should be made public.
Finally, he urged authorities to ensure that Habila’s family was protected from intimidation, inducement or undue pressure throughout the investigation.
Earlier, activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, had also called for a coroner’s inquest into the death.
According to him, the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death warranted a thorough forensic
investigation before any burial could take place.
Friend recounts final
moments
As public attention intensified, fresh details also emerged from an
affidavit reportedly sworn by Anita Baaki, a close friend and colleague of the deceased.
According to the affi davit, reported by Punch, Baaki travelled
with Habila and other officials from Abuja to Ebonyi on June 24
for an official assignment under the
Minister of Works.
She stated that members of the medical team were accommodated in separate but adjoining rooms within a staff chalet at the minister’s country home in Uburu.
Baaki said she last saw Habila alive on the evening of June 26 after she returned from having her hair done.
According to her, Habila stopped by her room to show off her new hairstyle before they chatted briefly.
“Mary told me she was tired and wanted to take a shower before sleeping. That was the last time I saw her alive,” she stated.
Baaki said concern arose the following morning when repeated telephone calls went unanswered.
After knocking several times without response, she alerted a domestic staff member to help locate her colleague.
When searches elsewhere on the premises proved unsuccessful, other staff members were informed and the room was eventually forced open.
She said Habila was found lying unconscious on the floor near the entrance.
She was rushed to the David
Umahi Federal University Teaching
Hospital, where doctors confi rmed
that she was dead on arrival.
Baaki maintained that her
affi davit was made voluntarily
and without coercion to assist
investigators in establishing the
circumstances surrounding Habila’s
death.
Police insist
investigation will
continue
Despite the family’s objections,
the Ebonyi State Police Command
has maintained that the investigation
will continue.
Police Public Relations Offi cer
Joshua Ukandu said detectives
received a distress call on the day
of the incident reporting a medical
emergency involving Habila at the
David Umahi Federal University
Teaching Hospital in Uburu.
He said offi cers were informed
that she had already died before
arriving at the hospital, prompting
the Commissioner of Police to
transfer the matter to the State
Criminal Investigation Department
for a more detailed inquiry.
According to the command,
preliminary investigations showed
that Habila and Baaki were both
members of the minister’s medical
team and had travelled from Abuja
to Uburu for offi cial duties before
the incident occurred.
Th e police said a post-mortem
examination remained necessary
given the nature of the case and the
need to establish the actual cause of
death.
“Th e examination remains
necessary given the sensitive nature
of the case and the imperative of
establishing the true cause of death,”
the command stated.
It disclosed that detectives had
visited the scene, taken statements
from relevant witnesses and were
making arrangements for a qualifi ed
pathologist to conduct the autopsy.
Th e command added that
it was awaiting the presence of
members of the deceased’s family
or their representatives to witness
the process, describing their
participation as important to
ensuring transparency.
‘I recently paid
N2.2m hospital bill for
her,’ Umahi speaks
Minister of Works David Umahi
on Th ursday once again spoke
on Ms Habila’s death, insisting
he suspected no foul play and
describing attempts to link him to
the incident as “politics taken too
far.” Umahi said the deceased, whom
he said was “like a daughter”, had
worked closely with him for about
three years and had a history of
medical challenges, revealing that
he personally funded her treatment,
including a medical bill of about
N2.2 million in April.
He also claimed that shortly
before she was found dead, Habila
had complained of bleeding from
her nose during a telephone
conversation with her boyfriend,
maintaining that there was no
evidence suggesting criminal
activity.
Speaking at a press briefi ng in
Abuja aft er the Federal Executive
Council meeting, the minister
said the deceased was a nurse
employed by the David Umahi
Federal University of Health
Sciences, Ebonyi State, and not a
physiotherapist as widely reported.
Th e clarifi cation followed a
statement by the Nigeria Society
of Physiotherapy on Th ursday
that Mary Habila’s name does not
appear on its register of licensed
physiotherapists, as well as her
father’s affi davit stating that she
served as the minister’s personal
nurse.
Th e minister’s latest comments
came amid growing public interest
and demands for an independent
investigation into the circumstances
surrounding the 26-year-old’s death.
Giving his fi rst detailed account
of the incident, Umahi said Habila
had lived and worked with his
family for years and enjoyed a close
relationship with them.
He appealed to the deceased’s
family to allow an autopsy to
establish the exact cause of death,
revealing that he had instructed
that her body should not be released
for burial until the procedure was
conducted.
“Th e lady in question was like
a daughter to me. She stayed with
me for three years. She was a staff
member of the Federal Medical
University. She was a nurse and not
a physiotherapist. Her family and my
family are like one family,” he said.
Th e minister disclosed that
Ms. Habila had been receiving
treatment for an undisclosed illness
at a hospital before her death and
claimed he personally paid her most
recent medical bill of N2.2 million in
April.
Narrating what he described as
her fi nal moments, Umahi said Ms.
Habila told her boyfriend she had
developed a nosebleed but later said
it had stopped. According to him,
the boyfriend advised her to seek
medical attention before ending the
call.
“Th ree minutes later, the
boyfriend called back, but she was
no longer responding,” he said,
adding that she had earlier told the
boyfriend she intended to take a
bath.
Umahi said colleagues became
concerned the following morning
aft er she failed to come out of her
room. When the door was forced
open, she was found dead, while the
bathroom tap was still running.
Th e minister argued that the guest
house where the incident occurred
was separate from his personal
residence and questioned eff orts
to hold him personally responsible
simply because the death occurred
on government premises linked
to his offi ce. Daily Trust could not
confi rm if the minister was at his
country home when the incident
occurred.
He maintained that investigators
should obtain the telephone
records between Ms. Habila and
her boyfriend, insisting they would
provide further insight into her fi nal
hours.
While acknowledging the
widespread public concern, Umahi
reiterated that he had requested
the Inspector-General of Police to
transfer the investigation to Abuja
and facilitate discussions with the
family over the autopsy.
“I suspect no foul play because
the room was locked from the
inside and had to be broken open
before they discovered the body. Th e
investigation should continue, but an
autopsy is necessary,” he said.
Umahi’s latest remarks come
as public scrutiny over the case
continues to intensify, with
opposition fi gures, civil society
groups and lawyers calling for
an independent and transparent
investigation into Habila’s death.
Th e controversy has also revived
memories of previous allegations
made against the minister while he
served as governor of Ebonyi State.
Months earlier, businesswoman
Tracy Ohiri publicly accused Umahi
of harassment and intimidation
following a dispute over business
dealings with the Ebonyi State
Government. She alleged that she was
unlawfully detained and subjected to
pressure aft er disagreements over
contractual matters.
Umahi denied the allegations,
insisting they were politically
motivated and without merit. Th e
claims did not result in any criminal
conviction against the minister aft er
a settlement. However, rights groups
at the time urged the authorities
to ensure that the allegations were
thoroughly investigated.
(Source: Daily Trust with modified headline)
