Southern Kaduna Group Drags Umahi To Court Over Habila’s Death, Seeks N20 Billion Damages

By Ayodele Oni

Dissatisfied with the circumstance surrounding her death, the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ United Associations (SOKAPU), has dragged the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to court over the death of Mary Habila, a nurse who was attached to his medical team.

The suit, filed before the Federal High Court in Kaduna, is seeking ₦20 billion in damages over what the group described as the loss of life resulting from an alleged breach of duty of care while Habila was under the minister’s custody.

Habila died on June 27 at the minister’s residence, a development that has generated public concern and calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

In the legal action, Habila’s father, Habila Tanko Wisdom, the Attorney-General of Ebonyi State and the state Commissioner of Police were listed as respondents.

SOKAPU is asking the court to declare that the nurse’s death occurred under what it described as “unexplained, controversial and unnatural circumstances,” while demanding a transparent investigation into the matter.

The group argued that the alleged removal of Habila’s remains to a mortuary without first filing an official report with the Nigeria Police Force violated her fundamental right to life as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The association also called on the court to recognise what it described as a continued violation of fundamental rights due to the alleged delay in conducting an independent and transparent autopsy and police investigation.

SOKAPU further requested that the court order relevant authorities, including the Ebonyi State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Police, to facilitate an independent autopsy involving medical experts from selected institutions.

The proposed team of experts includes pathologists from the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria; University College Hospital, Ibadan; and the National Hospital, Abuja.

The group also wants the police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the cause and circumstances of Habila’s death before her remains are released to the family for burial.

Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Police Command had earlier stated that an autopsy would be conducted as part of efforts to determine the cause of death, despite reported objections from members of the deceased’s family.

Umahi had also written to the state Commissioner of Police requesting that the medical examination be carried out.