Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately direct the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, to step aside pending the conclusion of investigations into the death of 26-year-old Mary Habila, who died on June 27, 2026, at Umahi's private residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State. Atiku, in a statement posted on his X handle on Thursday, July 16, 2026, expressed "deep sorrow and mounting concern" over the circumstances surrounding the death of Habila, a physiotherapist and native of Nok in Southern Kaduna. He extended condolences to the Habila family, stating, "No family should have to mourn a daughter taken in the prime of her life while also fighting simply to learn the truth of how she died".
Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of failing "comprehensively and disgracefully" to provide Nigerians with answers about the circumstances of Habila's death. He noted that for nearly two weeks after her passing, no official statement was issued, and that the matter only came to public attention after media reports. The former vice president highlighted that three weeks after Habila's death, no autopsy has been performed, no cause of death has been established, and the investigation remains with the Ebonyi State Police Command, where Umahi previously served two terms as governor.
Atiku questioned the government's silence on the matter, stating: "Silence from the Presidency. Silence from the Federal Executive Council. Silence from the Inspector-General of Police. Silence from the National Assembly". He criticised the minister's role in managing the narrative, noting that Umahi has been issuing statements through personal aides and deploying private lawyers while continuing his official duties "as though nothing has happened". Atiku stressed that he was not making any pronouncement on guilt or innocence, insisting that "only a credible, independent, and transparent investigation can establish the truth".
The ADC presidential candidate called on President Tinubu to direct Umahi to step aside immediately, describing the move not as punishment but as "the minimum standard of public accountability in any serious democracy". He also urged the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to transfer the investigation from the Ebonyi State Command to Force Headquarters, with the involvement of independent forensic experts. Atiku further demanded a full, independent, and internationally credible autopsy, with findings made public. He called for the protection of Habila's family from any pressure or intimidation, guaranteeing them access to the facts of their daughter's death.
Atiku concluded: "The measure of a nation is how it responds when the powerful are touched by tragedy and the powerless demand truth. Mary Habila was somebody's daughter, somebody's sister, a young professional with her life ahead of her. She was a Nigerian. Her death must not be reduced to a footnote of political convenience". Umahi had earlier publicly supported the conduct of a forensic autopsy and formally requested the Ebonyi State Police Command to ensure that a comprehensive post-mortem examination is carried out before the body is released for burial. The minister's legal team stated that Habila was staying in accommodation reserved for staff members and associates, not in his personal residence.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments