Umahi Cries Out: Habila Was Like My Own Daughter, Battling Undisclosed Ailment — I Want an Autopsy

…Family Says No, As Atiku, Dalung, Northern youths Pile Pressure on Tinubu, Minister

By Chike Ofili
Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, on Thursday insisted that the mysterious death of his personal nurse, Miss Mary Habila, must be subjected to a police-supervised autopsy, saying the 26-year-old was “like a daughter” to him and revealing that she had been battling an undisclosed medical condition before her death.

His appeal came as the Ebonyi State Police Command announced that it had engaged a pathologist to conduct a post-mortem examination as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death, despite stiff opposition from her family.

The development has also triggered political pressure on the minister, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar calling on President Bola Tinubu to direct Umahi to step aside pending the outcome of an independent investigation, while former Sports Minister Solomon Dalung and the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) demanded a transparent probe.

Habila, a nurse with the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, who had been on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works as Umahi’s personal nurse, died on June 27, 2026, at the minister’s country home in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Addressing journalists, Umahi disclosed that the deceased had been receiving treatment at the Turkish Hospital in Abuja for an undisclosed ailment, with her family paying the medical bills. According to him, the last hospital bill of about ₦2.2 million was settled on 5 April, adding that all her medical records were available.

He also recounted that Habila spoke with her boyfriend on the night before her death and complained of a nosebleed. Although she later informed him the bleeding had stopped, she reportedly pleaded with him not to end the telephone conversation. When he called back a few minutes later, she no longer answered.

According to the minister, colleagues became alarmed the following morning after repeated calls to her phone went unanswered. They eventually forced open the door to her room and found her lifeless, with a tap still running, suggesting she may have been preparing to take a bath.

“The lady was like a daughter to me,” Umahi said, insisting that only a forensic autopsy could establish the true cause of her death.

He disclosed that he had directed his lawyers to seek a court-backed autopsy, appealed to Habila’s parents to consent to the procedure, and requested the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the investigation to Force Headquarters in Abuja.

However, the deceased’s family has flatly rejected the request.

In an affidavit sworn before the High Court in Abakaliki by her father, Tanko Habila Wisdom, the family formally withdrew from further police investigations, stating that they did not suspect foul play and would not consent to an autopsy because they wanted their daughter’s body buried intact in accordance with their cultural beliefs.

The family also informed the authorities that they would no longer honour police or court invitations relating to the case and demanded the immediate release of her remains for burial.

Despite the family’s position, the Ebonyi State Police Command says it will proceed with efforts to establish the cause of death.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, said the command had engaged the services of a qualified pathologist to conduct a post-mortem examination as part of its comprehensive investigation.

According to him, the command received a distress call on June 27 from the Divisional Police Officer in Ohaozara reporting a medical emergency involving Habila at the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, Uburu.

He explained that after arriving at the hospital, the DPO confirmed that Habila had been brought in dead and immediately briefed the Commissioner of Police, who directed that the matter be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

Ukandu said detectives had since visited the scene, taken statements from relevant witnesses and commenced a full-scale investigation.

Although he acknowledged the family’s opposition to an autopsy, he stressed that the police considered the examination necessary because of the sensitive nature of the case and the need to scientifically determine the cause of death.

He added that the command was awaiting the attendance of Habila’s family or an authorised representative, whose presence is required before the post-mortem examination can be conducted.

“The command will carry out a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation and will continue to update the public as the case progresses,” he assured.

The controversy has meanwhile attracted political attention.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar urged President Tinubu to direct Umahi to step aside while investigations continue, insisting that the death of a young woman inside the residence of a serving minister required maximum transparency.

Atiku also called on the Inspector-General of Police to move the investigation to Abuja, involve independent forensic experts and ensure that the findings of the autopsy are made public.

Similarly, the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria demanded Umahi’s suspension and threatened nationwide protests within seven days unless what it described as an independent investigation was undertaken.

Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, also called for an independent probe, arguing that unexplained deaths are matters of public interest and should not be abandoned simply because the family no longer wishes to pursue the matter.

He maintained that criminal investigations are conducted on behalf of the state and society, not merely at the instance of the victim’s relatives, adding that only a transparent and independent investigation would lay public suspicion to rest.