Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Investigative details have emerged challenging the official narrative surrounding the death of Mary Habila, a physiotherapist who died at the country home of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Uburu, Ebonyi State, with police sources disputing key aspects of the minister's account and insisting on an autopsy despite an alleged plot to release the body for burial.
According to police sources close to the ongoing investigation, Habila was discovered unclothed inside the minister's residence the morning after her arrival, contradicting earlier administrative explanations regarding her presence at the property. Law enforcement personnel have also disputed the minister's claim that Habila and her colleague, Anita Baski, were formally seconded to his residence from the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences. Police sources allege that the two women were actually brought to the Ebonyi estate on June 26, 2026, travelling directly from Kaduna State. Security officials further disclosed that a police officer serving as the minister's Personal Assistant was responsible for organising their travel and later alerted medical personnel when Habila was found unresponsive the following morning.
The incident, which occurred on June 27, has triggered a comprehensive investigation. Due to the sensitive nature of the case, file handling has been transferred from the Ohaozara Divisional Police Headquarters to the Ebonyi State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Abakaliki. Following the discovery, the Chief Medical Director of the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital was notified, and emergency responders were dispatched to the scene.
In a statement issued on Saturday, July 11, 2026, by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nweze, Umahi confirmed Habila's death, describing it as unfortunate. The minister maintained that Habila and Baski were employees of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences who had been on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works as physiotherapists for the past three years. He said emergency measures were taken immediately after Habila was found unresponsive, with medical personnel and the police notified without delay.
Umahi claimed that he advised Habila's family to allow an autopsy to scientifically establish the cause of death but alleged that the family declined the recommendation at the time. "Following confirmation of Miss Habila's passing, the Honourable Minister personally received her parents, conveyed his sincere condolences, and advised that an autopsy be conducted to scientifically establish the exact cause of death. At the time, however, the family declined the recommendation," the statement said.
However, police investigators have challenged this narrative, insisting that an autopsy must be conducted to determine the cause of death and rejecting any alleged plot to release the body for burial without a post-mortem examination. Law enforcement officials have stated that they are keeping all options open as they work to establish the precise circumstances surrounding the fatality. The case continues to generate significant public interest and calls for structural transparency, specifically regarding the administrative protocols governing the deployment of institution-affiliated medical staff to private political residences.
Meanwhile, Umahi has directed his lawyers to initiate legal action against individuals circulating what he described as false reports about the incident. He described Habila as a committed staff member of the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital. The minister also said the deceased's parents, who are currently in Ebonyi State, would address journalists on the matter and would also institute legal proceedings against those allegedly spreading false information about their daughter's death.
The confirmation from Umahi followed an exclusive report by SaharaReporters stating that the circumstances surrounding Habila's death were shrouded in secrecy. SaharaReporters previously reported that Habila died under mysterious circumstances inside the country home of Nigeria's Works Minister in Uburu. Exclusive findings by SaharaReporters on Sunday indicated that Habila's body was found without clothing when it was removed from the minister's residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State, on June 27, 2026.
As the investigation continues, the public and the family of the deceased await clarity on the events that led to the death of the young physiotherapist. The conflicting accounts between the minister and police investigators have deepened the mystery surrounding the case, leaving many demanding answers over the death of Umahi's personal physiotherapist.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments