The family of Mary Habila, the 26-year-old nurse who died at the country home of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has rejected an autopsy and asked that her body be released for burial, insisting they do not suspect foul play.
In an affidavit filed before the High Court of Justice in Ebonyi State, Habila’s father, Tanko Habila, requested that the police investigation into his daughter’s death be discontinued, saying the family had accepted her death and would not consent to a post-mortem examination.
According to the affidavit, the family welcomed efforts to determine the cause of her death but maintained that they would not allow an autopsy to be carried out on her body.
Mary Habila worked at the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences before she was deployed to the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja, where she served as a personal nurse to the Minister of Works and members of his immediate staff for about three years.
She died on June 27, 2026, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, after travelling to the community with the minister.
Although David Umahi had requested an autopsy to establish the cause of death, the family insisted that her body and organs should remain untouched.
Tanko Habila further requested that the investigation be brought to an end and that his daughter’s remains be released immediately to enable the family to proceed with her burial.
He also stated that neither he nor any member of the family would honour further police invitations or court proceedings relating to the matter, stressing that they had no suspicion of foul play.
According to him, the family’s decision was voluntary and was not influenced, pressured or induced by any individual or organisation.
Despite the family’s position, the Ebonyi State Police Command said investigations into the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death would continue.
Police spokesperson Joshua Ukandu said officers received a distress call on the day of the incident reporting a medical emergency at the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital in Uburu.
Preliminary investigations, according to the police, revealed that Habila and another nurse, Anita Baaki, were members of the minister’s medical team and had accompanied him to Uburu before the incident occurred.
The command maintained that a post-mortem examination remains necessary because of the sensitive nature of the case and the need to establish the actual cause of death.
The police added that detectives had visited the scene, taken statements from relevant persons and were making arrangements for a pathologist to conduct the autopsy, while awaiting the presence of the family or their representatives.
The command assured the public that the investigation would be conducted professionally, transparently and impartially, promising to provide further updates as the case progresses.
