Minister of Works, David Umahi, has broken his silence over the death of Miss Mary Habila, a nurse who died at a government guest house in Uburu, Ebonyi State, insisting he suspects no foul play and describing attempts to implicate him as “politics taken too far.”
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, Umahi said Habila had worked closely with him for about three years and was “like a daughter” to him and his family. He clarified that she was a nurse with the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State, not a physiotherapist as widely reported.
The minister disclosed that he had personally funded her medical treatment, including a ₦2.2 million bill at a Turkish hospital in April, adding that she had a history of health challenges.
According to Umahi, Habila spoke with her boyfriend shortly before her death and complained of a nosebleed, which later stopped. She reportedly told him she was about to take a bath before communication ended. When she could no longer be reached, the door to her room was forced open and she was found dead, with the tap still running.
Umahi said there was no evidence of criminal activity, noting that another woman was sleeping in the room and the door was locked from the inside.
He appealed to Habila’s family to allow an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, revealing that he had directed that her body should not be released for burial until the examination is carried out. He also said he requested the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the investigation to Abuja to ensure a thorough and transparent probe.
The minister condemned what he described as the politicisation of the incident and vowed legal action against individuals and media organisations accused of spreading false information and cyberbullying the deceased.
Police investigations into the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death are ongoing, while calls for an independent probe continue.