The controversy surrounding the sudden death of 26-year-old nurse Mary Habila inside the Uburu country home of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has taken a dramatic turn.
Official legal advice released by the Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice has directly contradicted initial health assumptions, deepening the mystery and gridlock over the release of her remains.
The legal opinion, dated July 15, 2026, and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), J.U. Silo, firmly backed police recommendations for a mandatory post-mortem examination. The DPP explicitly stated that there was no record of illness prior to the tragedy, leaving investigators with critical, unanswered questions.
The DPP’s Findings: “Unclothed and Bleeding”
According to the official document obtained from case file “Cr: 578/2026,” the DPP revealed that Habila was in perfect health when she arrived at the Ohaozara Local Government Area complex on June 26.
The legal advice painted a stark picture of the scene where her body was discovered the following day, June 27, 2026:
“There was no evidence that the deceased was sick or unstable health-wise prior to her sudden death, as she was full of life at the time she returned to Uburu in the company of her team… [She] was found alone, unclothed, with bloodstains around her nose and mouth.” — Ebonyi State Director of Public Prosecutions
The DPP maintained that this specific state of discovery legally requires a forensic autopsy. “This curiosity under the law can only be resolved through a post-mortem examination, so as to provide a clue to the police as to the direction of their investigation,” the document read.
A House Divided: The Legal Stand-Off
The release of the DPP’s advice has intensified a high-stakes three-way legal stand-off between the grieving family, the Minister of Works, and the state.
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The Family’s Stance: The deceased’s father, Tanko Habila, filed a formal petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, demanding the immediate release of his daughter’s corpse without an autopsy. Represented by attorney Kaile Adamu Yusuf, the family cited strict cultural and religious considerations, maintaining they do not suspect foul play. “Somebody can fall and die. We don’t want that autopsy… Prolonged delay over a child’s death is not something the family can bear,” the father stated.
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The Minister’s Position: Baffled by the public backlash, Minister David Umahi broke his silence at an Abuja press briefing. While asserting that Habila was “like a daughter” who had a history of health issues—revealing he paid ₦2.2 million for her treatment at a Turkish hospital in April—Umahi firmly ordered his legal team to block the release of the body until a full autopsy is conducted to clear his name.
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The State’s Obligation: The legal stalemate has drawn heavy national political commentary. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar publicly demanded that President Bola Tinubu suspend Umahi to ensure an independent, state-led homicide inquiry, noting that under Nigerian law, suspicious deaths are crimes against the state that cannot be vetoed by family consent.
| The Conflicting Accounts | |
| The Minister’s Account | States Habila suffered recurring nosebleeds, complained to her boyfriend via text before passing, and died in a detached guest chalet while a bathroom tap was running. |
| The DPP Legal Advice | Asserts she was completely healthy and “full of life” hours prior; notes the body was found completely unclothed with unexplained trauma/bloodstains. |
| The Family’s View | Rejects both assertions; attributes the tragedy to natural, sudden death and opposes any surgical post-mortem. |
Moving to Force Headquarters
To neutralize local political interference and break the gridlock, the Minister confirmed he requested the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the case file from the Ebonyi State Criminal Investigation Department directly to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
As civil society groups and regional bodies like Ohanaeze Ndigbo urge the public to refrain from running a media trial, all eyes remain fixed on the police hierarchy to see if forensic science will be deployed against the family’s wishes to solve the riddle of the Uburu residence.
Ayodele Quadri
Correspondent
