Legal counsel has indicated that authorities are still seeking answers to the circumstances surrounding the tragic death yesterday of Mary Habila, a nurse connected to the office of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, deepening the mystery behind her death.
Saturday PUNCH reports that when Habila’s family escalated the call for the release of her remains for burial, Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice reportedly said that a post-mortem examination was necessary to ascertain the cause of death.
“The available evidence does not indicate that she was suffering from any health challenge before the incident,” the ministry said.
The news came as the police started inviting persons considered crucial to the inquiry, including persons who may have information regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of Habila.
But the family has continued to resist an autopsy, saying they have cultural and personal reasons and that their urgent focus is to retrieve her remains and execute her burial rites.
The dispute between the family and investigators has now reached a crucial stage with the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, poised to wade in after the family yesterday filed a formal appeal.
Habila, a servant of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Ebonyi State, died on June 27, 2026, at a private house belonging to the minister.
Her death became a matter of public attention when the circumstances of her discovery were reported, leading to police investigations and retention of her remains.
Family petitions IG.
The family, through its counsel, K.A. Yusuf, on Friday, petitioned the IG, charging the Ebonyi State Police Command of illegal retention of Habila’s corpse weeks after she died.
The appeal titled, “Complaint Against the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State for the Unlawful Refusal to Release the Corpse of Late Mary Habila for Burial” was filed at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The family stated they had complied with all police requests and had repeatedly sought the release of the remains but had been unsuccessful.
The family had suffered emotional and psychological hardship from the protracted detention of the remains and had not been able to fulfil conventional and religious funeral responsibilities, Yusuf said.
Our client and his family have suffered enormous emotional, psychological, financial and cultural distress as a consequence of the extended withholding of the remains of our client’s daughter.
“Our client’s family have been denied the ability to perform the traditional and religious burial rites that are the entitlement of every deceased person,” the petition claimed.
The lawyer asked the IG to take over the matter from the Ebonyi State Police Command and direct the immediate release of the corpse and investigate any officer found to have acted inappropriately.
After the petition was filed, Habila’s father, Wisdom, spoke, saying the family’s attitude hadn’t changed.
His only desire, he stated, was to take his daughter home and bury her.
I just want my daughter’s body back. Like so. We don’t keep the body of a tiny child this long.
“Therefore I am here to say it once and for all. I want my daughter’s body for burial. “That is what I am standing on,” Wisdom stated.
When asked why the family was opposed to an autopsy despite police saying it would help determine the circumstances surrounding her death, the grieving father stated they had made up their minds.
I don’t want an autopsy. That’s why I’m requesting the release of my daughter’s remains to go and bury her now,” he said.
However, the father said the family was not blaming anyone for causing Habila’s death.
“I don’t suspect nobody because death can happen. We are standing here, and one can fall here and die now. It’s occurred. “We are not suspecting anyone,” he said.
Habila was healthy before death – DPP
The family’s petition comes against the backdrop of a legal opinion by the Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice that questioned the circumstances surrounding the nurse’s death.
Habila was healthy before her arrival in Uburu on June 26, the paperwork obtained by our correspondent said.
The letter of legal advice, which was dated July 15, 2026, was signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, J.U. Chukwu, and addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, Ebonyi State.
The report, titled ‘The DPP’s Legal Advice in Re: Case of Sudden Death and Unnatural Death of Mary Habila with case file no. Cr: 578/2026” supported the police recommendation for a post-mortem examination.
The DPP said it was important that the investigation to uncover the immediate and remote causes of Habila’s death.
“There was no indication that the deceased was sick or of unstable health condition before her untimely death as she was full of life when she came back to Uburu with her team” the advice said.
Evidence available indicated that Habila was alone in her flat when her body was recovered, the letter added.
It stated that she was found naked with bloodstains around her nose and mouth.
The DPP said the circumstances surrounding the finding of her body needed further examination.
Based on the above, one would immediately ask the question – what really caused the abrupt death of the deceased? Advice stated: “The curiosity under the law can only be resolved by carrying out a post-mortem examination to give clue to the police as to the direction of their investigation.”
But the government did concede police had the choice to respect the family’s request or to proceed with an autopsy.
“It is therefore the view of this office that the police invoke their discretionary power either to respect the request of the family of the deceased or proceed with the post-mortem examination,” it added.
Suspects sought by police
Yesterday it was learnt that the police had started interviewing those deemed pertinent to the investigation.
People linked to the event had been called in to provide statements, a senior police source said.
A police official said, “We have asked them to make statements.” This is how it’s done and we cannot do otherwise here.
“Call it an arrest, fine; call it an invitation, that’s also fine. “But we called all of them, and they all made their statements,” the source stated.
The insider would not give details of the comments gathered, adding investigators were still working on the subject.
A senior official of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the government was determined to ensure a transparent probe.
The procedure would be allowed to take its course without interference, the official said.
But the minister’s media adviser, Nwaeze Francis, claimed he was not aware that Umahi got any invitation from the police.
“As I speak to you I have no knowledge of any invitation or letter from the police to the minister. “I don’t have any information,” he responded.
Umahi denies any improper doing
Speaking on the topic on Thursday, the minister said he suspected foul play and called efforts to link him to the incident “politics taken too far.”
Habila was like a daughter to him and had worked closely with him for several years, Umahi claimed.
He said the dead had suffered medical issues, adding that he personally funded the therapy.
The minister also said during a phone call with her partner just before she was found dead, Habila said she was bleeding from her nose.
He insisted that there was no proof of foul play.
Habila’s family defends his identity
Meanwhile, the family’s lawyer tried to address what he called misconceptions about Habila’s identity and professional experience.
Yusuf said the dead was a nurse and not a physiotherapist.
“There are some grey areas that need to be clarified especially where false allegations have been made about her and her character.
“Late Mary Habila was not a physiotherapist. “She was a nurse and worked in the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, before she was seconded to the office of the minister,” he claimed.
He said Habila had spent around three years in the minister’s office and was still a government worker.
The family received her appointment letter, payslips and other paperwork proving she was on the payroll, he claimed.
The lawyer also said efforts were made to besmirch the dead woman’s reputation following her death.
He deserved decency and respect,’ said Habila.
Anita Baaki, a coworker of the dead who also attended the family’s briefing, rejected rumours that she and Habila were newly recruited into the minister’s office.
We were not carted off in any vehicle. I have been a worker for a long time and we were coworkers. “We have worked for about three years under the minister,” she stated.
“Baaki explained that Habila was the nurse and she was the physiotherapist.
She’s a nurse. I am the physical therapist. “The reports that she was a physiotherapist are not true,” she continued.
Demands for probe, resignation
The issue has drawn political responses as former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to remove Umahi awaiting the conclusion of a transparent probe. Political sciences
Atiku said the political power of the minister means the inquiry should not be limited to officials in Ebonyi State.
And some groups have demanded a full probe.
But a faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo opposed the calls for Umahi’s resignation, branding it as premature.
The group said no person should be punished before investigations are concluded, in a statement signed by its Deputy President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro.
It labelled the calls as politically driven and said due process should be followed.
The group also condemned what it called selective outrage, citing past incidences of killings, and asked why political leaders who had not called for equivalent action in those situations were suddenly demanding consequences.
Political intervention should not be permitted to get in the way of investigations, the group said.
Likewise, the minister’s relatives in the Rulers Council urged against politicisation of the situation.
In a statement issued by their spokesperson Nicholas Odi, they called for an unbiased probe based on evidence, professionalism and the outcome of any independent examination.
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