Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has shed more light on the circumstances leading to the death of Mary Habila in his guest house in Ebonyi State.
Umahi, at a press conference, said the late Habila had some medical condition for which she was receiving treatment at Turkish Hospital in Abuja.
He recounted how she spoke on phone with her boyfriend (boyfriend’s name not disclosed) on the day she died, complaining that she was bleeding from the nose. The minister disclosed that the boyfriend advised her to report to her boss (Umahi) but she declined on the ground that the Minister would ask her to return to the hospital and she did not want to bother him. The boyfriend then asked her to go to a nearby hospital for attention and said he would end the call to enable her rest, since she was bleeding. Umahi narrated that the boyfriend called her back about three minutes later and the lady did not respond.
The minister said he has requested the Nigeria Police to check the call log of the lady with her boyfriend on the day that she died to confirm what he said.
Umahi remarked that Habila was a nurse (not a physiotherapist) and was like a daughter to him. He added that her medical bill at the Turkish Hospital totalling N2.2 million, incurred sometime in April, was paid by him.
He wondered why some people should insinuate foul play in the 26-year old lady’s death, asking if the minister should be held accountable if someone dies in the Ministry of Works. The minister noted that the guest house where the lady and her colleague (another medical personnel from Benue State) stayed was very far from his residence.
Both Habila and her colleague from Benue State were staff of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences but were on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works.
Habila died on June 27, 2026 at the minister’s guest house and the minister has requested the Inspector General of Police to ensure an autopsy was carried out on the dead ascertain the cause of her death. He also asked the Police IG to transfer the case from Ebonyi State to Abuja, since he was a former governor in Ebonyi State.
But the father of the deceased swore an affidavit in court that his daughter’s remains should not be subjected to any autopsy as it was against their culture.
Umahi said he would want the autopsy to be carried out, noting that “life is spiritual” and if his family had hands in the “killing,” it would follow them in their family, but if they did not, and someone is jumping into it, such persons should be careful. He said he was a “a man of full grace” and anybody trying to tackle him any how should be careful.
Umahi said he is David, and that he doesn’t fear battles and he has never lost any.
The minister warned that after the lady’s burial, his lawyers would revisit the issue of the police officer who, he alleged, snapped the late Habila when she was already prepared for the mortuary, and gave the naked picture to the Sahara Reporters.
He added that his lawyers would also write two unnamed persons to answer questions relating to cyber-bullying on this matter.