Minister David Umahi Requests Autopsy on Late Staff Mary Habila
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has formally requested that the Nigeria Police Force carry out an autopsy on Mary Habila, a staff member who died at his residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State, on June 27, 2026.
In his letter, Umahi urged the police to involve qualified forensic pathologists so that the exact cause of Habila’s death can be established.
Habila was employed at the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences in Uburu and was on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works in Mabushi, Abuja.
The minister’s correspondence stated that she died in a building located within his residence compound at Umunaga, Uburu, in the Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The building is used to house staff and other personnel attached to the minister and is separate from the apartment where he resides.
The letter noted that, on the night of her death, Habila and another occupant—a physiotherapist—were the only people present in the building.
Umahi also asked the police to withhold the release of Habila’s remains to any party, including her next of kin, Tanko Habila Wisdom of Sabon Gari, Nok, Jaba Local Government Area, Kaduna State, until the autopsy and any further investigations are completed.
The request aims to preserve the integrity of the investigation, curb speculation, and ensure that the facts surrounding her death are firmly established before burial.
The minister emphasized that the matter should be treated with urgency in the interest of justice.
About the Author
