July 16, 2026
Minister of Works, David Umahi, has provided fresh details on the death of 26-year-old nurse Mary Habila, revealing that she complained of a nosebleed during a phone conversation with her boyfriend hours before she was found dead.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the June 27 incident, Umahi described the late Habila as someone his family regarded “like a daughter,” noting that she had worked with them for about three years. He also clarified that she was a nurse at the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, and not a physiotherapist as previously reported by some media outlets.
According to the minister, Habila informed her boyfriend that she had started bleeding from the nose. After he advised her to report the condition to her supervisor, she later told him the bleeding had stopped. Umahi said the boyfriend wanted to end the call so she could rest, but Habila reportedly pleaded with him to remain on the line. When he eventually ended the conversation and called back a few minutes later, she was no longer responding to her phone.
Umahi said concern grew the following morning when colleagues could not reach Habila despite repeated calls. They eventually forced open the door to her room and discovered her lifeless. He added that the bathroom tap was still running when she was found, suggesting she may have been preparing to take a bath before the incident.
The minister explained that the guest house where Habila stayed is separate from his personal residence and was occupied only by Habila and another female employee from Benue State.
Insisting that the actual cause of death should be scientifically established, Umahi said he directed his legal team to request a forensic autopsy and appealed to Habila’s family to allow the examination before her remains are released for burial, despite reports that the family initially objected on cultural grounds.
He also disclosed that Habila had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed health condition at a Turkish hospital in Abuja, with the medical expenses reportedly paid by his family. According to Umahi, the latest hospital bill of about ₦2.2 million was settled on April 5, while relevant medical records have been made available to investigators.
To ensure what he described as a transparent process, the minister said he notified the Inspector-General of Police and requested that the investigation be transferred to Abuja.
Responding to allegations circulating on social media, Umahi maintained that there was no immediate indication of foul play, noting that Habila’s room was locked from the inside and had to be forced open before her body was discovered. He also criticised what he described as attempts to politicise the tragedy and said his legal team had been instructed to pursue legal action against individuals allegedly spreading false or defamatory information online.
Calls for Independent Investigation Intensify
Meanwhile, the Allied People’s Movement (APM) has urged President Bola Tinubu to suspend Umahi and constitute an independent panel to investigate the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, the opposition party argued that an independent inquiry would help establish the facts surrounding the incident and reinforce public confidence in the government’s commitment to justice, accountability and the rule of law.
The party maintained that several questions raised by members of the public require credible and impartial answers, insisting that no public official should be perceived as being above investigation. It also expressed condolences to Habila’s family and pledged support for efforts aimed at ensuring justice.
The development comes amid growing public interest in the case, with various civil society organisations, political leaders and advocacy groups also demanding an independent and transparent investigation.
Family Seeks to Stop Autopsy
The controversy has also taken a legal dimension, as Habila’s family has reportedly approached an Ebonyi State High Court seeking to stop the police-requested forensic autopsy, maintaining that they do not suspect foul play and want her body released for burial.
However, Umahi’s legal team has insisted that a comprehensive forensic examination should be conducted before the remains are released, arguing that the procedure is necessary to determine the exact cause of death and eliminate speculation.
Police investigations into the incident are continuing.
The cause of Mary Habila’s death has not been officially established. Statements attributed to Minister David Umahi and the Allied People’s Movement represent their respective positions. The final determination of the cause of death rests with the ongoing police investigation and any forensic examination that may be conducted.
Mary Habila was a Nigerian healthcare professional from Kaduna State who worked at the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS), Uburu, before being seconded to the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja for about three years. She died on June 27, 2026, after she was found unresponsive in accommodation linked to Minister of Works David Umahi in Uburu, Ebonyi State. Her death has attracted nationwide attention, prompting police investigations, calls for an independent probe, and renewed demands for a forensic autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. While official accounts indicate she was a nurse, earlier reports had identified her as a physiotherapist. The circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation.
