Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed allegations linking him to the death of Miss Mary Habila, a staff member who died at a government guest house in Uburu, Ebonyi State, insisting that there was no evidence of foul play and describing attempts to implicate him as “politics taken too far.”
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Umahi said the deceased, whom he described as “like a daughter,” had lived and worked with him for about three years.
He clarified that Habila was a nurse employed by the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State, and not a physiotherapist as widely reported.
The minister said Habila had a history of medical challenges and had been receiving treatment at a Turkish hospital, with him personally footing her medical bills. According to Umahi, he paid N2.2 million for her treatment on April 5, adding that all medical records were available.
Providing details of her final moments, Umahi said Habila had spoken with her boyfriend shortly before her death and reportedly complained of bleeding from her nose.
He said the boyfriend advised her to seek medical attention, but communication ended shortly afterward.
According to the minister, the deceased had intended to take a bath before she stopped responding to calls. He said the door to her room had to be forced open before she was found dead, with the tap still running.
Umahi maintained that he did not suspect any criminal activity, noting that another woman was reportedly sleeping in the same room and that the door was locked from the inside.
He also rejected suggestions that he should be held responsible because the incident occurred in a guest house linked to the Ministry of Works.
The minister appealed to Habila’s family to allow an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, revealing that he had directed that the body should not be released for burial until the procedure was conducted.
He disclosed that the family had objected to an autopsy on cultural grounds.
Umahi further said he had requested the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the investigation to Abuja to ensure a thorough probe and facilitate discussions with the family.
He also urged investigators to examine the call records between the deceased and her boyfriend.
Describing Habila as one of his most dedicated staff members, the minister said her death had left him devastated and vowed to take legal action against individuals and media organisations he accused of spreading false information and cyberbullying the deceased.
The death of the nurse has attracted widespread public attention and sparked calls for an independent investigation, while police authorities continue their inquiries into the circumstances surrounding her demise. An autopsy, considered crucial to determining the cause of death, is yet to be carried out.
