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A close friend and colleague of Mary Habila, the nurse attached to the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences and on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works, has described the events leading up to Habila’s death in Ebonyi State. In a sworn affidavit filed before the Ebonyi State High Court, Anita Baaki said she travelled with Habila and other ministry officials from Abuja to Ebonyi on June 24, 2026, for an official assignment under the Minister of Works, David Umahi. The team was accommodated in adjoining rooms at a staff chalet in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area, which she stressed was designated for ministry staff and associates, not the minister’s personal residence.
Baaki said she last saw Habila alive on the evening of June 26 after she returned from having her hair styled. According to her, Habila visited her room to show off her new hairstyle, and the two chatted briefly before Habila said she was tired and intended to take a shower before going to bed. The following morning, Baaki became concerned when Habila failed to come out of her room as expected, prompting efforts to check on her, which eventually led to the discovery of her death.
The affidavit forms part of the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding Habila’s death, which has generated widespread public attention and calls for a transparent investigation. While Minister David Umahi has supported a forensic autopsy to determine the cause of death, Habila’s family has opposed the procedure and requested the release of her body for burial. Police investigations into the circumstances surrounding her death are still ongoing.
