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The father of Mary Habila, the 26-year-old nurse who died at the country home of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has rejected plans for an autopsy and asked that his daughter’s body be released for burial. In an affidavit filed before the Ebonyi State High Court, Tanko Habila stated that the family does not suspect foul play in Mary’s death and therefore wants the ongoing police investigation withdrawn. He also requested that authorities hand over her remains without conducting a post-mortem examination.
According to the affidavit, Habila said that while the family appreciates efforts to determine the cause of Mary’s death, they would not consent to an autopsy because it goes against their wishes. He further asked that no medical procedure be carried out on her body or internal organs, insisting that the family should be allowed to proceed with her burial. The family also indicated that it would not honour further police or court invitations concerning the matter, maintaining that they believe her death was not the result of criminal activity.
Mary Habila, a nurse with the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, had been on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works, where she served as a personal nurse to the minister and his staff. She died on June 27, 2026, after travelling with the minister to Uburu, Ebonyi State. While David Umahi has publicly appealed for an autopsy to establish the exact cause of her death, the family’s latest position introduces a new dimension to the ongoing legal and investigative process surrounding the case.
