- Umahi said Mary Habila was like a daughter to him
- He appealed to her family to approve an autopsy
- Police investigations into her death are ongoing
Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed claims linking him to the death of Miss Mary Habila, a staff member who died at a government guest house in Uburu, Ebonyi State, describing such allegations as politically motivated.
Speaking on Thursday during a press briefing in Abuja, Eko Hot Blog gathered that Umahi said the deceased was like a daughter to him and had worked closely with him for about three years. He maintained that he had no reason to suspect foul play in her death.
EDITOR’S PICK
- 175th Kayokayo Festival Grand Finale: Epe Celebrates 175 Years of Faith, Heritage, Unity and Prosperity
- Wale Raji Reaffirms Commitment at KayoKayo Finale
- India: Massive Garbage Heap Collapse Kills Nine Workers at Waste-to-Energy Plant
The minister clarified that Habila was a nurse employed by the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State, contrary to reports identifying her as a physiotherapist.
According to him, she had a history of medical challenges and had been receiving treatment at a Turkish hospital, with the expenses covered by him.
Umahi disclosed that one of her recent treatments cost ₦2.2 million, insisting that medical records were available to support the claim.
He also recounted what he described as the deceased’s final conversation with her boyfriend, saying she reportedly complained of bleeding from her nose shortly before communication between them ended.
The minister said the boyfriend advised her to seek medical attention, but she reportedly replied that the bleeding had stopped. Minutes later, repeated calls to her phone went unanswered.
Umahi added that Habila had informed her boyfriend she was about to take a bath before she was later found dead inside her locked room. According to him, those around her forced the door open after becoming concerned and discovered her lifeless body, with the tap still running.
He stressed that the guest house where the incident occurred was separate from his private residence, arguing that it was unfair to hold him personally responsible simply because the property belonged to the ministry.
The minister condemned what he described as attempts to politicise the incident, saying the tragedy should not be used to score political points.
Expressing sadness over her death, Umahi described Habila as one of his most dedicated workers whose loss had deeply affected him and his family.
He appealed to her relatives to permit an autopsy, saying it remained the only way to establish the exact cause of death.
According to him, he had instructed that the body should not be released for burial until the medical examination was conducted, despite the family’s reported objection on cultural grounds.
Umahi further revealed that he had asked the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the investigation to Abuja to ensure a thorough and transparent probe while encouraging investigators to examine the call records between the deceased and her boyfriend.
He also claimed the nurse had experienced similar nosebleeds during previous official trips, adding that the investigation should follow due process even though he had seen no indication of criminal activity.
The minister criticised the circulation of photographs allegedly taken at the mortuary, accusing some individuals of spreading misleading information, and vowed to pursue legal action against those responsible for what he described as false reports and cyberbullying.
The death of Mary Habila has continued to attract public attention, with several groups calling for an independent investigation. Police inquiries remain ongoing, while the proposed autopsy has yet to be conducted.
FURTHER READING
