Minister of Works, David Umahi, is facing public scrutiny following the death of his personal physiotherapist, Mary Habila, reportedly at his residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State.
The minister confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nweze, describing Habila’s death as unfortunate and expressing shock over the development.
According to the statement, Habila and another physiotherapist, Anita Baski, were employees of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, who had been on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works for the past three years.
Umahi said emergency measures were taken immediately after Habila was found unresponsive, with medical personnel, including the Chief Medical Director of the university’s teaching hospital, contacted without delay. He added that the police were also notified in line with legal procedures.
The minister said he advised Habila’s family to allow an autopsy to determine the exact cause of her death but claimed they declined the request.
“Following confirmation of Miss Habila’s passing, the Honourable Minister personally received her parents, conveyed his sincere condolences, and advised that an autopsy be conducted to scientifically establish the exact cause of death. At the time, however, the family declined the recommendation,” the statement said.
It added, “It is important to clarify that Miss Mary Habila and Miss Anita Baski are employees of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, who had been on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works as physiotherapists for the past three years until the unfortunate passing of Miss Habila.”
The case has continued to generate controversy following reports alleging that Habila was found dead inside the minister’s residence under circumstances that investigators are yet to establish.
SaharaReporters also reported claims that she was found without clothing when her body was removed from the residence and published photographs it said it had independently verified.
The publication further reported that police sources disputed the minister’s account regarding the women’s deployment, alleging that Habila and Anita Baski travelled from Kaduna State to the residence on June 26 and that Habila died the following morning. The police sources also claimed the matter had been transferred to the Ebonyi State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
Questions have also been raised over the circumstances under which employees of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences were allegedly assigned to provide services at the minister’s residence.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force had not issued an official statement on the incident or confirmed the claims surrounding Habila’s death. The cause of her death also remains unknown, while investigations are ongoing.
