Umahi Nurse's Death: Family Rejects Autopsy, Seeks End to Police Investigation

The family of Mary Habila, the 26-year-old nurse who died at the country home of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has asked the Ebonyi State High Court to halt the police investigation into her death and refused to consent to an autopsy.

The request was contained in an affidavit sworn by her father, Tanko Habila, and filed before the High Court of Justice in Ebonyi State on July 13, 2026.

In the affidavit, Habila said the family did not suspect foul play in their daughter's death and would not permit a post-mortem examination.

"While I welcome steps being taken to unravel the cause of my daughter's death, my family and I will not accept any autopsy," the affidavit stated.

Mary Habila was a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences before she was seconded to the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja, where she served as a personal nurse to Minister Umahi and his immediate staff for about three years.

She died on June 27, 2026, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, after accompanying the minister to his hometown.

Following the incident, Minister Umahi reportedly requested that an autopsy be conducted to determine the cause of her death. However, the family has maintained its opposition to the procedure, insisting that her body and internal organs should remain untouched.

Her father also asked investigators to discontinue the inquiry and release her remains for burial.

"I also wish not to proceed further with the investigation and further request to have my daughter's body released to me for burial," he stated.

He added that the family would not honour any further invitations from the police or the court regarding the matter because they did not believe any criminal act was involved.

Tanko Habila further stressed that the family's decision was made freely and without any form of pressure or inducement.

"While reiterating our request for the Nigerian Police to release my daughter's corpse for burial, I wish to state that I was never induced, coerced or influenced in any way with anything or by anybody to make these depositions, as everything deposed here reflects the sincere wishes of my family and I," he said.

Despite the family's position, the Ebonyi State Police Command has insisted that investigations into the nurse's death will 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, Uburu.

According to him, Habila had already died before arriving at the hospital, prompting the Commissioner of Police to transfer the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a comprehensive investigation.

The police disclosed that preliminary findings showed Habila and another nurse, Anita Baaki, were members of the minister's medical team and had accompanied him to Uburu before the incident.

The command maintained that a post-mortem examination remained necessary to establish the actual cause of death.

"The examination remains necessary given the sensitive nature of the case and the imperative of establishing the true cause of death," the police said.

The police added that detectives have visited the scene, taken statements from relevant persons and are making arrangements for a pathologist to conduct the autopsy.

According to the command, it is awaiting the presence of the deceased's family or their representative, describing their participation as essential to the process.

The police assured the public that the investigation would be conducted transparently and impartially, with further updates to be provided as the case progresses.