By Friday Temitope Eugenia
National News – Fresh developments have deepened the mystery surrounding the death of Mary Habila, a nurse attached to the Office of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, as legal advice from the Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice recommended a post-mortem examination to determine the actual cause of her death.
The latest development comes as Habila’s family continues to demand the immediate release of her remains for burial, while police investigators intensify efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding her death by inviting persons considered relevant to the case for questioning.
The Ministry of Justice, in its legal opinion, stated that available evidence showed Habila was not suffering from any known illness before her sudden death, making an autopsy necessary to establish both the immediate and remote causes of death.
However, the deceased’s family has rejected the proposed post-mortem examination, citing cultural and personal reasons. Instead, they insist their priority is to retrieve her body and conduct her burial according to family and religious traditions.
The disagreement between investigators and the family has further complicated the investigation, with the Inspector-General of Police expected to review the matter following a petition submitted by Habila’s relatives.
Habila, an employee of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, reportedly died on June 27, 2026, at a private residence associated with the Minister of Works, an incident that has continued to attract widespread public attention.
Family Petitions IGP
The family, through its lawyer, K.A. Yusuf, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, accusing the Ebonyi State Police Command of unlawfully withholding Habila’s remains weeks after her death.
The petition, submitted at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, urged the police chief to order the immediate release of the body and investigate officers allegedly responsible for refusing to hand it over despite repeated requests.
According to the family, the continued detention of the corpse has caused severe emotional, psychological, financial and cultural hardship by preventing them from carrying out customary burial rites.
Habila’s father, Wisdom Habila, maintained that the family was not accusing anyone of causing his daughter’s death but insisted that they did not want an autopsy.
“I only want my daughter’s body so we can bury her,” he said, adding that the family had resolved not to permit a post-mortem examination.
DPP Recommends Autopsy
A legal opinion dated July 15, 2026, and signed by Ebonyi State Director of Public Prosecutions, J.U. Chukwu, supported the police recommendation for a post-mortem examination.
The document stated there was no evidence that Habila was ill before her death, describing her as healthy when she returned to Uburu with her colleagues.
According to the legal advice, preliminary findings indicated that she was found alone in her apartment, unclothed, with bloodstains around her nose and mouth, circumstances that require further scientific investigation.
The DPP concluded that only a post-mortem examination could provide investigators with vital clues regarding the cause of death and guide the direction of the police investigation.
The ministry, however, noted that the police retained the discretion to either honour the family’s request or proceed with an autopsy in the interest of justice.
Police Continue Investigation
Police have also begun interviewing individuals considered relevant to the investigation.
A senior police source confirmed that those connected to the incident had been invited to provide statements, stressing that investigations were ongoing and declining to disclose details of the testimonies.
An official of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice also assured that the government was committed to a transparent and impartial investigation.
Meanwhile, the minister’s media aide, Francis Nwaeze, said he was unaware of any invitation extended to David Umahi by the police.
Umahi Denies Wrongdoing
Minister of Works David Umahi, who recently addressed the matter publicly, denied any wrongdoing and dismissed attempts to link him to Habila’s death as politically motivated.
He described the deceased as someone he regarded like a daughter and disclosed that she had battled health challenges for which he had personally supported her treatment.
Umahi also revealed that Habila reportedly complained of nose bleeding during a telephone conversation with her boyfriend shortly before she was found dead, insisting there was no evidence of foul play.
Family Clarifies Habila’s Identity
The deceased’s lawyer also dismissed reports identifying Habila as a physiotherapist, clarifying that she was a qualified nurse employed by the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences before being seconded to the minister’s office about three years ago.
He said the family possesses her employment records, appointment letter and payslips to confirm her professional status and criticised efforts to tarnish her reputation after death.
A colleague of the deceased, Anita Baaki, corroborated the claim, explaining that she, not Habila, was the physiotherapist, while Habila served as the office nurse.
Calls for Thorough Investigation
The incident has continued to generate political reactions across the country.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend Umahi pending the outcome of an independent investigation, arguing that the probe should not be left solely in the hands of authorities in Ebonyi State.
However, a faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo rejected calls for the minister’s resignation, describing them as premature and politically motivated.
The group urged Nigerians to allow investigators complete their work before drawing conclusions, while Umahi’s kinsmen under the Rulers Council also appealed against politicising the case and called for a professional, evidence-based investigation.
