Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has broken his silence over the death of a nurse, Mary Habila, at his residence in Ebonyi State, dismissing allegations of a cover-up and insisting that the incident was handled openly and in accordance with due process. Speaking on Sunday, 12 July 2026, while inspecting ongoing construction along the Ebonyi section of the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Superhighway, Umahi rejected claims that the circumstances surrounding Habila's death were shrouded in secrecy, questioning: "The family reported the matter to the police, so where is the secrecy?"
According to the minister, Habila's family became concerned after they could not reach her and forced open the door to her room. Medical personnel from the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital were immediately called and rushed her to the hospital, where efforts to revive her proved unsuccessful. "The family broke the girl's door, called doctors from DUFUTH, who took her to the hospital and did everything to revive her, but failed," Umahi said. He added that the incident was promptly reported to the police, dismissing any suggestion of a cover-up.
Umahi disclosed that he had directed that an autopsy be conducted to establish the cause of death, noting that the procedure would be carried out with the consent of the deceased's parents. He described the autopsy as the most credible and responsible way to resolve questions surrounding the incident. He had earlier advised the family to allow an autopsy, but the recommendation was initially declined. However, amid renewed public attention, the minister reiterated his position that an autopsy must now be conducted to determine the cause of Habila's death and address the questions that have continued to trail the incident.
Umahi also announced that he had instructed his lawyers to initiate legal proceedings 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 and said the deceased's parents, who are currently in Ebonyi State, would address journalists on the matter and also institute legal proceedings against those allegedly spreading false information about their daughter's death.
Habila and another woman, Anita Baski, were employees of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, who had been on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works as physiotherapists for the past three years. The incident occurred on 27 June 2026, barely a day after the two women were reportedly brought to the minister's residence. The death has since triggered a police investigation, with the case transferred from the Ohaozara Divisional Police Headquarters to the Ebonyi State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Abakaliki.
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