Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Senator David Nweze Umahi, has come under severe public and political fire following the shocking and highly controversial death of a lady, Miss Mary Habila, inside his country home.
The incident, which occurred at the minister’s sprawling private residence in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has sparked intense public scrutiny into why state university hospital personnel were deployed to serve a public official’s private home.
While initial investigations into the tragedy were quietly kept under wraps by state security apparatuses, leaked intelligence from multiple police sources confirmed that the case has now been officially stripped from the local division and transferred to the Ebonyi State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Abakaliki for high-level homicide profiling.
A timeline of tragic end of Mary Habila
According to preliminary case files, the deceased, Mary Habila, alongside another female medical colleague identified as Miss Anita Baski—both originally from Kaduna State—arrived at Senator Umahi’s Uburu mansion on Friday, June 26, 2026.
The duo were allegedly transported to the residence specifically to administer clinical and physical therapy sessions to the minister.
Tragedy struck the following morning, Saturday, June 27, when Habila was discovered completely unresponsive inside the home.
Leaked investigative details published by investigative outlet SaharaReporters alleged that the young woman was found dead under deeply compromising and unnatural circumstances within the residence.
Jonathan Bawado, a police officer serving as Umahi’s Personal Assistant and his former gubernatorial Aide-de-Camp (ADC), reportedly discovered the body and raised the alarm.
He immediately contacted the Chief Medical Director of the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH), Professor Chihurumnanya Alo, alongside the Ohaozara Divisional Police Officer, CSP Tobechukwu Godwin, who dispatched an emergency ambulance to clear the scene.
Umahi pushes back, demands autopsy
Reacting to the massive public backlash on Saturday, the Minister of Works, through an official statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Francis Nwaze, described Habila’s demise as an “unfortunate passing” that filled him with profound shock and sadness.
The minister firmly rejected allegations of a cover-up, clarifying that the deceased and her colleague were official employees of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS), Uburu, who had been on formal secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja for the past three years.
“Following confirmation of Miss Habila’s passing, the Honourable Minister personally received her parents, conveyed his sincere condolences, and advised that an autopsy be conducted to scientifically establish the exact cause of death,” Nwaze stated.
The presidency’s media team revealed that the deceased’s family initially declined the medical examination, opting instead to take custody of their daughter’s remains amid emotional distress.
However, as public outrage continues to grow over the details of her death, Senator Umahi has stiffened his stance, insisting that a full forensic autopsy must proceed regardless of initial familial hesitations.
“The Honourable Minister has again reiterated his position that an autopsy must be conducted. He remains convinced that this is the most credible and responsible path to resolving all questions surrounding the unfortunate incident,” the statement added, while appealing to the public to refrain from wild speculations and allow the SCID detectives to wrap up their forensic findings.
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