The family of Mary Habila, the physiotherapist who died in a controversial manner at the Uburu residence of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has demanded for the corpse of their daughter for burial and rejected police proposed post-mortem examination on the deceased.
Penpushing reports that it would be recalled that the lady who was attached to Umahi, was pronounced dead upon arrival at the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, Uburu, Ebonyi State, on June 27, 2026.
The Minister, following public outcry, requested that the police conduct a post-mortem on the 26-year-old deceased, but her family rejected the request and proceeded to fix the burial arrangements.
Penpushing further reports that father of the deceased, Tanko Habila, deposed to an affidavit at the Ebonyi State High Court on July 13, 2026, stated that although the Minister requested an autopsy on his late daughter’s body, but declared that the family does not consent to it.
“While I welcome steps being taken to unravel the cause of my daughter’s death, my family and I will not accept any post-mortem on her body. It is my family’s wish and humble appeal, notwithstanding medical and investigation protocols, to leave her body and organs intact; hence this affidavit,” he said.
Penpushing also reports that the father explained that he and his family do not wish for further investigation into their daughter’s death as they do not suspect any foul play regarding her demise.
The family, therefore, formally requested that the Nigeria Police Force release their daughter’s body to the them for a proper burial, emphasizing that that they wish not to proceed further with the investigation.
Penpushing reports that the bereaved father maintained that he was never induced, coerced, or influenced in any way with anything or by anybody to make the deposition.
“I also wish not to proceed further with the investigation and request that my daughter’s body be released to me for burial. Everything deposed here reflects the sincere wishes of my family and me,” he added.
Penpushing further reports that who died on June 27, 2026 was part of the medical team attached to the Minister and had accompanied him to his hometown in Uburu, where she allegedly died in a room within his residence.
The Minister, a former Ebonyi State Governor in early July, denied a cover-up regarding the nurse’s death, insisting that the incident had been reported to the police for investigation, while he subsequently asked the police to conduct a post-mortem
Penpushing also reports that while the family opposed the autopsy and scheduled the burial for July 17, 2026, the Ebonyi State Police Command Public Relations Officer Joshua Ukandu insisted on proceeding.
The police spokesperson in a statement on Wednesday, stated that the command was awaiting the family or their representative, as required, before the examination could be carried out, with assurance that the investigation would be thorough, transparent, and impartial and that the command would provide updates as the case progresses.
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