Minister of Works, David Umahi, has broken his silence over the death of 26-year-old nurse, Mary Habila, describing her as “like a daughter” and dismissing insinuations linking him to the incident as politically motivated.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Umahi said Habila had worked closely with him for about three years and was one of his most trusted staff members.
He insisted there was no evidence suggesting foul play in her death and urged Nigerians to allow security agencies to conclude their investigation.
The minister clarified that the deceased was a nurse employed by the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State, and not a physiotherapist as earlier reported.
According to him, Habila had a history of medical challenges and had been receiving treatment at a Turkish hospital, with her medical expenses covered by him.
Umahi disclosed that shortly before her death, the nurse reportedly informed her boyfriend during a telephone conversation that she was bleeding from the nose.
He said the boyfriend advised her to seek medical attention, but communication later ceased after she reportedly went to take a bath.
He explained that when colleagues became concerned after repeated calls went unanswered, they forced open her room and found her lifeless, while the bathroom tap was still running.
The minister stressed that the guest house where the incident occurred was designated for staff members and medical personnel and was located far from his private residence, arguing that attempts to personally implicate him were unfair.
He described the late nurse as a hardworking and dedicated employee whose death had left him deeply saddened.
Umahi also appealed to the deceased’s family to allow a forensic autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, revealing that he had instructed that the body should not be released for burial until the procedure is carried out.
According to him, efforts to conduct the autopsy have been delayed because the family objected on cultural grounds.
The minister disclosed that he had requested the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the investigation to Abuja to ensure a more comprehensive and transparent probe, while also facilitating discussions with the bereaved family.
He further claimed that Habila had experienced similar nosebleeding episodes during previous official trips and urged investigators to examine the call records between the deceased and her boyfriend, insisting they could provide useful insight into her final moments.
While maintaining that investigations should continue without interference, Umahi said he had no reason to suspect criminal activity, noting that preliminary information available to him did not indicate foul play.
He also condemned the circulation of photographs allegedly taken at the mortuary, accusing some individuals of exploiting the incident to spread misinformation and damage reputations.
The minister warned that his legal team would pursue action against persons and media platforms found to have circulated false or defamatory information relating to the case.
The death of Mary Habila has continued to attract nationwide attention, with calls from various quarters for an independent investigation.
Meanwhile, police authorities have maintained that investigations are ongoing, while a forensic autopsy, considered crucial to establishing the cause of death, has yet to be conducted due to objections from the deceased’s family.
