ABUJA: The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has publicly addressed the death of his staff member, Mary Habila, who passed away at a ministry guest house in Uburu, Ebonyi State. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the minister dismissed allegations linking him to the incident, characterizing the speculation as politically motivated.
Correcting the Record and Medical History
During the briefing, the minister clarified several details regarding the deceased. He noted that Habila was a nurse employed by the Federal University of Health Sciences in Ebonyi State, correcting prior reports that identified her as a physiotherapist. Describing her as a close associate who was treated like family, the minister stated that she had a known history of medical challenges. He confirmed that he had personally financed her healthcare, including a recent multi-million naira treatment at a Turkish hospital.
Timeline of the Incident
The minister detailed the events leading up to the discovery of Habila's body. According to telephone records and a final conversation with her boyfriend, Habila had reported experiencing a nosebleed shortly before communication ceased. She had also indicated plans to take a bath.
The minister explained that her room was locked from the inside, where she slept in the same quarters as another colleague. Security personnel eventually broke down the door to discover her body, noting that the bathroom tap was still running. The minister emphasized that the guest house is entirely separate from his personal residence and argued against holding public officials personally accountable for incidents occurring within ministry facilities.
Investigation and Autopsy Requests
The minister stated that he suspects no criminal activity or foul play in the passing of his employee, whom he praised as a highly dedicated worker. To ensure full transparency, he has requested the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the investigation to Abuja.
Furthermore, the minister has ordered that the body not be released for burial until a full autopsy is performed to determine the exact cause of death. He noted that the procedure has faced delays due to cultural objections from the deceased's family, whom authorities are currently urging to cooperate with the medical investigation.
Legal Action Against Media Reports
Addressing the public fallout, the minister criticized the unauthorized release of mortuary photographs and condemned what he described as cyberbullying and the spread of misinformation by certain media outlets. He confirmed that his legal team has been instructed to initiate lawsuits against organizations responsible for publishing defamatory reports regarding the incident.
The police investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek to review phone logs and secure the necessary permissions for the post-mortem examination.