*Colleague Recounts Last Encounter
THE family of Mary Habila, the 26-year-old nurse that died at the Ebonyi State private residence of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has appealled to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, to intervene and order the immediate release of her body for burial.
Addressing journalists at the Force headquarters in Abuja on Friday, July 17, family’s lawyer, Kaile Yusuf, said all procedures required by the Police to claim the body and proceed with burial arrangements had been fulfilled.
The family reiterated its objection to the conduct of an autopsy to determine the actual cause of Mary, an employee of the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, who was found dead on June 27, while attached to the minister’s medical team.
Yusuf said despite complying with all Police requirements for the release of her body, it had remained in official custody for nearly three weeks after her death.
He stated: “It is regrettable that, having followed all necessary procedures by the family as required by the Nigerian Police to retrieve the body to give her a befitting burial, having stayed long in that process, her body is yet to be released to the family, which is unfortunate.”
Yusuf said the briefing was also intended to correct what he described as misinformation about Mary’s identity and profession, explaining that the deceased was a trained nurse, not a physiotherapist, as reported.
The lawyer noted that she had previously worked at the David Umahi University of Health Sciences before she was deployed to the office of the minister, where she served as a civil servant for about three years, as could be confirmed by documents, including her appointment letter and salary records.
He decried the continued retention of the body, saying there was no justification for that, alleging that some individuals were attempting to politicise the circumstances surrounding Mary’s death.
He said that the family had petitioned the IGP against the Ebonyi State commissioner of Police, seeking intervention to secure the immediate release of Mary’s remains, saying the family had consistently rejected requests for an autopsy, citing personal, cultural and traditional reasons.
“We are here to also ascertain the fact that the minister has requested time without number for the autopsy of late Mary, but the family has resolved and are determined and standing their ground not to allow it because of some personal, cultural and traditional reasons.
“It is at this point that we want to make clear to the world that Mary Habila has never been a runs girl or whatever, and she has been in Abuja working with the minister before her eventful death, and this is the truth.”
Mary’s father, Tanko Habila, appealled for the release of his daughter’s remains, noting: “I don’t have much to talk in this case; all I want is the corpse of my daughter.
“We don’t keep corpse of little children for so long like this. That is why I am here again to say this once and for all, that I need the corpse of my daughter to take her for burial.
“That is what I am standing on.”
Habila stressed that the family is not accusing anyone over Mary’s death and had maintained a cordial relationship with her workplace before the incident.
While the family is opposed to an autopsy and wants the body released to it immediately for burial, Umahi and the state Police Command insist on a post-mortem to establish the cause of her death, with the minister directing that the body should not be released until the autopsy is conducted.
The Command said investigators had visited the scene, obtained statements from relevant persons and were awaiting the attendance of Mary’s family or an authorised representative before proceeding with the autopsy.
The insistence on a post-mortem followed legal advice from the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), J.U. Chukwu, who stated that an autopsy was necessary to establish the cause of her sudden and unexplained death.
According to Chukwu, available evidence indicated that Mary was “laid lifeless on the floor of her apartment, naked, with blood stain on her nose and mouth,” and that only a forensic examination could determine what caused her death.
Umahi has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, saying he requested an autopsy to establish the cause of Mary’s death, urging the public to allow investigators to complete their work.
As a result, the family postponed her burial indefinitely.
Mary’s colleague, with whom she had travelled to the minister’s residence, Anita Baaki, described her death as shocking, clarifying that she was a physiotherapist, while Mary worked as a nurse.
Anita, in a social media condolence message, posted on July 1, alongside a photograph of herself and Mary, wrote: “Rest on my dearest friend, in a sister’s form, the world will remember your gentle soul.”
The post did not mention Mary by name or refer to the circumstances surrounding her death.
Following public attention to the case and he silence, Baaki, in an unconfirmed affidavit attributed to her, and sworn to before the High Court Registry in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on July 15, gave account of the final hours she spent with Mary before she was found unconscious.
In the affidavit, Baaki stated that she had worked with Umahi since his tenure as governor of Ebonyi State before becoming an employee of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS).
She stated that she and Mary had worked together under the minister for about three years and had developed a close friendship, and that both of them travelled from Abuja to Ebonyi State on June 24, alongside other members of the minister’s staff.
The affidavit stated: “On the fateful night of 26th day of June, 2026, at the ministers house in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, we have stayed in the same staff chalet in our respective rooms, which are next to each other.
“Late Mary Habila went to make her hair and came back to show me in my room. After we joked about it, she told me that she was is and want to take a shower before she sleeps.
“That was the last time we saw each other for the night.”
She added: “The following morning when I did not see her as usual, I called her phone, but the call was not going through then. I left my room to knock on her door, which was locked from the inside, but there was no response.
“Then I became apprehensive and instructed a domestic servant to search for her around the house.
“She was not found anywhere in the house, so I alerted everyone and a thorough search began, which led to forcing her door open.
“Lo and behold, she was found on the floor close to the door.”
The affidavit stated that Mary was rushed to the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, where doctors confirmed her dead on arrival.
