The Minister of Works, Senator Umahi, has broken his silence over the death of Mary Habila, a staff member who died at a government guest house in Uburu, Ebonyi State, insisting that he suspected no foul play and describing allegations linking him to the incident as “politics taken too far”.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, the minister said the deceased was “like a daughter” to him, adding that she had worked closely with him for about three years and had a history of medical challenges for which he personally funded treatment.
Umahi also clarified that Habila was a nurse employed by the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State, and not a physiotherapist as previously reported.
The minister said he was deeply saddened by her death, describing her as one of his most dedicated staff members. He appealed to her family to allow an autopsy to be conducted to determine the exact cause of death, stating that he had directed that her remains should not be released for burial until the procedure was completed.
According to Umahi, Habila had received medical treatment at a hospital in Turkey, with the latest treatment, which cost N2.2 million, funded by him.
Providing details of the circumstances surrounding her death, the minister said Habila had complained of a nosebleed during a telephone conversation with her boyfriend shortly before she was found unresponsive.
He said the boyfriend advised her to seek medical attention, but she later informed him that the bleeding had stopped. Umahi added that communication between them ended shortly afterwards, and subsequent attempts to reach her were unsuccessful.
The minister said Habila had earlier informed her boyfriend that she intended to take a bath, adding that when concerns were raised about her safety, the door to her room was broken open and she was found dead, with the tap still running.
Umahi stressed that the guest house where the incident occurred was separate from his personal residence, arguing that the location of the incident did not imply personal responsibility.
He said attempts to link him to the death were unfair and urged caution against using the incident for political purposes.
“People should be careful when they want to use the unfortunate death of a young girl to play politics,” the minister said, adding that he would cooperate fully with investigations.
Umahi disclosed that an autopsy had not been conducted because the deceased’s family reportedly objected on cultural grounds. He said he had requested the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the investigation to Abuja to facilitate a thorough inquiry and discussions with the family.
The minister also asked investigators to examine the telephone records of the deceased and her boyfriend, saying the records would help establish their final conversation before her death.
He maintained that he had seen no evidence of criminal activity, noting that Habila’s room was locked and had to be forced open before her body was discovered.
Umahi also criticised the circulation of photographs allegedly taken at the mortuary, accusing some individuals of spreading misleading information about the incident. He said his lawyers had been instructed to take legal action against those involved in what he described as cyberbullying and the spread of false information.
The death of the nurse has attracted public attention, with calls from some groups for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Police authorities are continuing their investigation, while an autopsy remains pending.
