The death of 26-year-old physiotherapist Mary Habila at the Ebonyi country home of Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has sparked political controversy, public outrage, and a standoff over autopsy, with the minister dismissing claims of a cover-up and insisting on a forensic examination to determine the cause of death.
Habila, a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, died on June 27, 2026, at the minister’s residence in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. She had been on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja for about three years as part of the medical team attached to Umahi and his immediate staff.
How She Was Found
According to accounts given by Umahi and the police, Habila and her colleague, Miss Anita Baski, had accompanied the minister to his hometown in Uburu. Her colleague became concerned the following morning when repeated attempts to reach her failed. The door to her room, which was locked from the inside, was forced open and she was found lifeless.
A friend, Baaki, recounted that Habila was found lying unconscious on the floor near the entrance of the room and was immediately rushed to the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, where she was confirmed dead on arrival.
The Ebonyi State Police Command said it received a distress call on June 27 from the DPO, Ohaozara Division, regarding a medical emergency involving Habila. The Commissioner of Police subsequently directed that the matter be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for thorough investigation.
Umahi Demands Autopsy, Family Rejects It
In the days following the incident, Umahi publicly called for an autopsy to “scientifically establish the exact cause of death”. He disclosed that he had instructed his lawyers to request the procedure and asked that the body should not be released for burial until it was carried out.
“We told our lawyer that an autopsy should be done. We are appealing to the parents to allow it. They said it is against their culture,” Umahi said. He also revealed that Habila had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed medical condition at Turkish Hospital in Abuja, with the last hospital bill of about N2.2 million settled by his family on April 5.
The minister said he had reported the matter to the Inspector-General of Police and requested that the investigation be transferred to Abuja. However, Habila’s father, Tanko Habila, filed an affidavit dated July 13 before the Ebonyi State High Court asking to withdraw the police investigation and refusing to allow 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. He added that the family did not suspect foul play and requested that her remains be handed over for burial.
Despite the family’s position, the Ebonyi State Police Command insisted an autopsy remained necessary “because of the sensitive nature of the case and the need to establish the true cause of death”. The PPRO, SP Joshua Ukandu, said the command was set to engage a pathologist and was awaiting the family’s attendance or that of a duly appointed representative.
Claims of Secrecy and Political Pressure
The incident first gained wider attention after SaharaReporters alleged that the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death were “shrouded in secrecy”. Umahi’s office responded that emergency measures were immediately activated, including contacting medical personnel and notifying the police in line with legal procedures.
Umahi also dismissed suggestions of a cover-up, questioning why the minister should be held responsible. “What baffles me is that everything becomes politics in this country. Must the minister be held responsible because somebody died in a guest house under the Ministry of Works? Is that how it works?” he asked. He further instructed his lawyers to pursue legal action against individuals spreading what he described as false information online, saying “We are going to test the law on cyberbullying over this matter”.
The minister’s team clarified that Habila was staying in accommodation reserved for staff members and associates, not the minister’s personal residence.
Calls for Independent Probe
The death has drawn reactions from political figures and groups demanding transparency. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar urged President Bola Tinubu to direct Umahi to “step aside pending the conclusion of investigations”. Atiku called for “a full, independent, and internationally credible autopsy” with findings made public, and stressed that the family must be protected from “pressure, inducement, or intimidation”.
The Allied People’s Movement also called on President Tinubu to suspend Umahi and order “an open, independent and transparent inquest”, arguing that it would strengthen public confidence in the administration’s commitment to justice.
What Happens Next
As of the latest updates, police investigations are ongoing. Detectives have visited the scene and obtained statements from relevant persons. The police confirmed they are awaiting the family to proceed with the post-mortem examination.
Umahi has reiterated that an autopsy “remains the most credible and responsible path to resolving all questions surrounding the unfortunate incident”, and has appealed to the public to “refrain from speculation or premature conclusions”.
For now, the body of Mary Habila remains at the center of a dispute between a minister demanding scientific clarity and a family seeking to bury their daughter without further medical procedure. The outcome of the police investigation and the court’s position on the autopsy request will determine the next steps in a case that has already become one of the most discussed incidents involving a federal minister this year.
Key facts at a glance:
Deceased: Mary Habila, 26, physiotherapist/nurse on secondment to Ministry of Works.
Date and place of death: June 27, 2026, at Umahi’s residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State.
Current status: Police investigation ongoing; autopsy requested by minister and police, rejected by family .
