David Umahi Denies Involvement in Mary Habila's Death, Appeals for Autopsy.

Minister of Works David Umahi has denied any involvement in the death of Mary Habila, a staff member who died at his residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State, insisting that allegations linking him to the incident are false and politically motivated.

Speaking during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Umahi described Habila as someone he regarded "like a daughter" and dismissed suggestions of foul play, saying attempts to implicate him in the incident amounted to politics taken too far.

According to the minister, the deceased had worked closely with him for about three years and maintained a close relationship with his family throughout that period.

Umahi also clarified that Habila was a nurse employed by the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, contrary to earlier reports identifying her as a physiotherapist.

He explained that she had been assigned to work with him while remaining a staff member of the university.

Umahi Reveals Medical History
The minister disclosed that Habila had been receiving medical treatment for an existing health condition before her death.

According to him, she had undergone treatment at a Turkish hospital, with the medical expenses personally paid by him.

Umahi said the most recent payment for her treatment was made on April 5, amounting to ₦2.2 million, adding that hospital records were available to support his claims.

He maintained that the medical history should be considered as part of efforts to determine the actual cause of her death.

Details of Her Final Phone Call

Providing further details, Umahi said Habila had been speaking with her boyfriend shortly before she died.

According to the minister, she reportedly complained during the conversation that she was experiencing bleeding from her nose.

He said her boyfriend advised her to report the situation, but she responded that the bleeding had stopped.

Umahi further claimed that the boyfriend ended the conversation out of concern that continuing the call could worsen her condition.

According to the minister, the boyfriend attempted to call her again about three minutes later, but she did not answer.

'I'm Innocent'

The Minister stressed that the guest house where Habila died was separate from his personal residence and located some distance away, arguing that it was unfair to hold him responsible simply because the incident occurred within facilities linked to his office.

According to Umahi, some individuals were attempting to exploit the unfortunate incident for political purposes.

He questioned why he should be blamed simply because the deceased died in a guest house used by medical personnel attached to him, insisting that such conclusions were unjustified.

Umahi cautioned against politicising the death of the young nurse, stating that if anyone connected to him was responsible, justice would take its course.

However, he warned against making unfounded accusations without evidence, describing life as spiritual and urging Nigerians to be careful with their words.

The minister also described Habila as one of his most dedicated workers, saying her death had left him deeply saddened.

According to him, replacing someone with her level of commitment would be extremely difficult.

Appeals To Family Over Autopsy

Umahi revealed that efforts to conduct an autopsy have so far been unsuccessful because Habila's family objected to the procedure on cultural grounds.

He said his legal team had continued to insist on a post-mortem examination and that he had directed that the body should not be released for burial until the autopsy was completed.

The minister appealed directly to the deceased's family to cooperate with investigators by allowing the examination to proceed.

He further disclosed that he had requested the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the investigation from Ebonyi State to Abuja to ensure a more comprehensive investigation and facilitate discussions with the family.

According to him, relocating the investigation would also allow the police leadership to personally engage the family and persuade them to approve the autopsy.

Call Logs Should Be Investigated

Umahi also claimed that Habila had previously experienced similar episodes of nosebleeding while accompanying him on official assignments.

According to him, her boyfriend had informed him that she had once complained of the same condition while they were in Lagos, but declined to notify the minister because she did not want to inconvenience him.

The minister therefore urged investigators to obtain the telephone call records of both Habila and her boyfriend.

He said examining the call logs would help investigators verify the details of their final conversation and provide greater clarity about the events leading to her death.

'No Evidence Of Foul Play'

While expressing support for a thorough investigation, Umahi maintained that he had not seen any evidence suggesting that a crime had been committed.

He explained that another female staff member was sleeping in the same room with Habila on the night of the incident.

According to him, the room remained locked from the inside and had to be forced open before Habila was discovered, while water was still running from the tap, suggesting she had been preparing to take a bath before the incident occurred.

Police Leaked Mortuary Pictures

The minister also alleged that photographs of the deceased currently circulating on social media were taken at the mortuary by police officers.

He claimed the images were released before Habila's body was properly prepared, describing the action as damaging and insensitive.

Umahi further vowed to pursue legal action against media organisations and individuals he accused of spreading false information and engaging in cyberbullying over the incident.

He said his legal team had already been directed to initiate appropriate legal processes, stressing that the matter would provide an opportunity to test the law against the spread of misinformation and online harassment.

The Minister reiterated his support for a transparent investigation, insisting that only a comprehensive forensic examination would establish the true cause of Habila's death and put an end to speculation surrounding the incident.