Mary Habila’s Death: Umahi Petitions Police, Insists On Autopsy Before Funeral Ceremonies

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Amidst growing public outrage, condemnations ,and vociferous calls for an independent and transparent investigation, the embattled Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi has insisted that an autopsy be conducted before the release of the corpse ,and burial of physiotherapist Mary Habila.

Miss Habila, an employee of the Federal University of Health Sciences Uburu in Ohaozara local Council of Ebonyi State, passed on suddenly, at the country home of Umahi, on June 27. She had, in the company of one other, arrived on June 26. Her inexplicable passing has stirred much controversy, with not a few calling for an unfettered inquest into the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident.

But incensed by much of the commentaries which tend to indict him ,the Minister of Works has petitioned the Ebonyi State Police Command which is in custody of the corpse of the deceased and demanded that an autopsy be conducted before the release of her body for burial.

The family of the deceased had on Tuesday , July 14, informed that she will be buried on Friday July 17, a position which the Minister had, reportedly, earlier endorsed.

However, in a letter addressed to the Ebonyi State Police Command through his legal team Roy & Associates, dated July 15, 2026, Umahi noted that owing to the growing level of controversy and unpalatable commentaries that have trailed the death of Hibila on June, 27, 2026 at the Staff Quarters located besides his  Uburu residence, he would like an autopsy to be carried out before any burial arrangements.

In the letter, Umahi specifically demanded that the Police should not release Habila’s corpse to anybody, including her family members, until an autopsy is conducted.

The Works Minister emphasized that his position is predicated on the imperative to preserve the credibility of the ongoing probe into the incident, as well as ensuring that the actual facts behind the death are established.

Umahi’s position is coming on the heels of calls from the African Democratic Congress, ADC, for an independent and transparent investigation into the death of the physiotherapist.

The Party, in a statement from Bolaji Abdullahi its national spokesperson on Wednesday July 15, 2026, also, asked Umahi to step aside from his exalted office pending the conclusion of Investigations into the development.

According to the ADC, several questions relating to the deceased presence and death at Umahi’s could only conclusively be settled through an investigative process completely devoid of Government influence.