Isaac Samuel
Fresh questions have continued to trail the death of Mary Habila following a petition by Minister of Works, David Umahi, seeking a forensic autopsy to determine the circumstances surrounding her death before her remains are released for burial.
Umahi, through his legal representatives, Roy & Associates, petitioned the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, urging the command to ensure that a comprehensive autopsy is conducted on the deceased.
In the petition dated July 15, 2026, and acknowledged by the Ebonyi State Police Command the same day, the law firm said it was acting on the instruction of the minister.
According to the petition, Habila, a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, who was on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works, died on June 27, 2026.
The lawyers stated that she died in a staff residential building located within Umahi’s residence in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
They, however, clarified that the deceased did not reside in the same building as the minister, noting that the facility was designated for members of Umahi’s staff and other personnel working with him.
The legal team disclosed that on the night of her death, only Habila and another female occupant identified as a physiotherapist were in the building.
In the petition, Umahi’s lawyers urged the police to ensure that qualified forensic pathologists conduct a thorough autopsy to scientifically establish the actual cause and circumstances of Habila’s death.
They also requested that the remains of the deceased should not be released to any person, including her next of kin, until the autopsy and other relevant investigative procedures have been concluded.
According to the lawyers, the request is necessary to preserve the integrity of the investigation and eliminate speculation surrounding the incident.
They argued that determining the exact cause of death through scientific examination would help provide clarity and ensure that all questions surrounding the matter are properly addressed before burial.
“The essence of the request is to preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation, eliminate speculation and ensure that the true cause of Mary Habila’s death is conclusively established before her remains are released for burial,” the petition stated.
The controversy began after reports emerged that Mary Habila, a physiotherapist attached to the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS), Uburu, died on June 27 in a staff residential facility located within the minister’s compound in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
According to Umahi, the deceased and another physiotherapist, Anita Baski, had been on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works for about three years.
Umahi has consistently maintained that there was no attempt to conceal the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death.
He said medical personnel from DUFUHS and the police were notified immediately after the incident, while the deceased’s family was informed.
The minister also disclosed that he initially advised the family to permit an autopsy to determine the cause of death, but the recommendation was declined at the time.
The matter attracted heightened public attention following conflicting accounts about the circumstances leading to Habila’s death and the nature of her assignment at the minister’s residence.
While Umahi’s camp has described her as a physiotherapist attached to his team, some media reports cited investigators as seeking further clarification on the events preceding her death.
