Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Southern Kaduna socio-political group, Southern Kaduna Is Awake, has added its voice to the growing chorus of civil society organisations and opposition parties demanding an independent and transparent investigation into the death of 26-year-old Mary Habila, who was found dead under controversial circumstances at the Uburu residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi. In a statement signed by Nasiru Jagaba and made available to KADUNA POLITICAL AFFAIRS on Wednesday, the group described the circumstances surrounding Habila's death as troubling and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order a full and impartial probe in the interest of justice and public confidence. The group's demand comes as Habila's family has announced her burial for Friday, July 17, 2026, amid widespread public outcry and conflicting reports over whether an autopsy will be conducted to establish the cause of death.
According to the group's statement, Habila reportedly arrived at the minister's residence alive but was later confirmed dead, a development that warrants a thorough investigation. The group referred to media reports indicating that police investigators have insisted on an autopsy before the release of the body for burial, describing the move as a necessary step in establishing the cause of death. The group urged the Federal Government to ensure that investigators are allowed to carry out their work without interference and that all individuals connected to the incident are questioned in line with due process. Specifically, the statement called for the questioning of a woman who reportedly travelled with the deceased, as well as a police officer alleged to have facilitated their visit to the residence, stressing that no individual should be presumed guilty but that no one should be exempt from investigation.
The group also expressed concern over reports that members of Habila's family were allegedly facing pressure regarding the demand for an autopsy. It urged authorities to investigate any such claims and guarantee the integrity of the investigative process. Calling for transparency, the group appealed to President Tinubu to direct an independent inquiry, ensure that a professional autopsy is conducted, provide protection for witnesses where necessary, and make the findings public. "The truth should not fear investigation, and justice should never bow before power," the statement said, echoing the sentiments of activists and opposition figures who have demanded that the minister step aside pending the outcome of an independent probe.
The Southern Kaduna group's demand aligns with calls from human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, who has insisted on a coroner's inquest into Habila's death, noting that she died with blood flowing from her mouth, a condition he said suggests the death was unnatural. Sowore warned against any attempt to hasten her burial and urged authorities to ensure due process is followed. The African Democratic Congress has also called for an independent investigation, demanding that Umahi step aside pending the outcome of the probe, and accusing the Tinubu administration of shielding senior officials from accountability. The ADC maintained that the death of a citizen in the residence of a serving cabinet minister is no longer a private matter but one that demands public accountability.
The controversy has been further fuelled by fresh details emerging from the Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice. According to a legal advice dated July 15, 2026, and addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ebonyi State Police Command, the Director of Public Prosecutions stated that the evidence available in the police case file did not sufficiently establish what caused Habila's death. The legal advice noted that Habila was found alone and unresponsive in her apartment, with circumstances at the scene raising questions that investigators could not resolve without a medical examination. "There was no evidence that the deceased was indisposed, sick or unstable health-wise prior to her sudden death, as she was full of life at the time she returned to Uburu in company of her team," the document stated. The ministry maintained that a post-mortem examination was the most appropriate way to provide investigators with a clear direction.
Despite the ministry's recommendation, Habila's family has reportedly indicated that it does not intend to request an autopsy. Her father, Baba Habila, had reportedly visited a morgue in Ebonyi to receive the body ahead of the planned burial in Nok, Kaduna State, but declined to speak to journalists. As of the time of filing this report, Habila's body had reportedly not been released, as investigators continue to consider the recommendation of the Ministry of Justice. Minister Umahi has publicly denied any wrongdoing in connection with Habila's death and described her as a physiotherapist seconded from the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences to the Federal Ministry of Works. He has also stated that he has encouraged the family to consent to an autopsy to establish the cause of death.
The case has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many Nigerians questioning the circumstances surrounding Habila's death and calling for a transparent investigation. The Southern Kaduna group's demand for an independent probe underscores the growing frustration among civil society and ethnic groups who feel that justice may be compromised by the political influence of those involved. As the family prepares for burial on Friday, the standoff over the autopsy and the call for an independent investigation continues to intensify, leaving the nation to wonder whether the truth will ever be uncovered in the case of Mary Habila.
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