Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has announced plans to institute legal action against individuals and groups spreading what he described as false and defamatory reports over the death of a nurse allegedly linked to his residence in Ebonyi State.
Speaking during an inspection of the Ebonyi section of the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Super Highway, Umahi dismissed allegations circulating on social media that the death of Nurse Mary Habila was shrouded in secrecy or deliberately covered up.
According to the minister, the deceased’s family became concerned after she failed to respond to repeated calls.
He said they forced open her room, discovered her unconscious and immediately contacted doctors from the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH), who rushed her to the hospital in an effort to save her life.
Umahi stated that despite the medical team’s efforts, the nurse could not be revived.
He further explained that the incident was promptly reported to the police, insisting that claims of a cover-up were entirely false.
“The family reported the matter to the police. So where is the secrecy?” he queried.
The former Ebonyi State governor disclosed that the deceased’s parents, who are currently in the state, would address journalists and also pursue legal action against those circulating what they consider false narratives about their daughter’s death.
He added that he had directed that an autopsy be carried out, subject to the consent of the deceased’s family, to establish the actual cause of death.
Condemning what he described as the exploitation of a tragic incident for social media attention, Umahi urged members of the public to refrain from spreading unverified information.
The minister described the late Mary Habila as a committed nurse at the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital who had attended to him professionally for about three years.
Umahi also dismissed reports linking him to an alleged kidnap suspect reportedly recruited into the Ebubeagu security outfit during his tenure as governor, maintaining that he had no relationship with the individual.
Reaffirming his opposition to kidnapping and all forms of criminality, the minister described the allegations against him as politically motivated and vowed to defend his reputation through every lawful means available.
