Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, to temporarily step aside while authorities conduct an independent investigation into the death of Mary Habila, a 26-year-old staff member who died at the minister’s private residence in Ebonyi State.
The call, made on Thursday, has intensified public scrutiny of a case that has sparked nationwide debate over accountability, transparency, and the independence of criminal investigations involving senior government officials.
Mary Habila, who hailed from Nok in Southern Kaduna State, reportedly died on June 27, 2026, inside a building located within Umahi’s residence in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. While the exact cause of her death remains unknown, questions surrounding the circumstances have continued to fuel public concern.
In a statement shared on his official Facebook page, Atiku extended condolences to Habila’s family but insisted that expressions of sympathy alone were insufficient without a credible effort to establish what happened.
“No family should have to mourn a daughter taken in the prime of her life while also struggling to discover the truth behind her death,” he said.
The former vice president stressed that he was not accusing anyone of wrongdoing but argued that only a transparent, impartial, and professionally conducted investigation could determine the facts.
Atiku expressed concern over reports that an autopsy had yet to be completed and questioned why the investigation remained under the Ebonyi State Police Command, considering Umahi previously served as governor of the state. According to him, the circumstances require a higher level of independence to maintain public confidence.
He called on President Tinubu to direct Umahi to temporarily vacate office until investigations are concluded, describing the move as an established principle of democratic accountability rather than a declaration of guilt.
According to Atiku, asking a public official to step aside during an investigation protects the integrity of the process and reassures citizens that justice will be pursued without interference.
The opposition leader also appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the case from the Ebonyi State Police Command to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where independent investigators and forensic specialists could oversee the inquiry.
He further demanded that a comprehensive forensic autopsy be conducted without delay and that its findings be released publicly to ensure transparency.
Atiku also urged authorities to guarantee the safety of Habila’s relatives and ensure they receive full access to information throughout the investigation without intimidation or external pressure.
Meanwhile, Minister David Umahi has maintained that he supports a thorough investigation into the incident. He previously requested that police engage qualified forensic pathologists to conduct an autopsy and asked that Habila’s remains should not be released to her family until all forensic examinations and investigations are completed.
The case has attracted increasing public attention across Nigeria, with civil society groups, political figures, and rights advocates calling for an impartial investigation that would reassure Nigerians and the international community that justice is being pursued without political influence.
As pressure continues to mount, many observers believe the outcome of the investigation could become a significant test of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to transparency, the rule of law, and public accountability.
