ICYMI: Police seek autopsy in Mary Habila death as family maintains opposition

Crime Diary

ABAKALIKI, Nigeria (NPA) — The Ebonyi State Police Command has provided a detailed account of its response to the death of 26-year-old Mary Habila, saying it is pursuing a comprehensive investigation and insisting that a post-mortem examination is necessary to determine the cause of her death.

The development comes as controversy continues to surround the circumstances of Habila’s death at the country home of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, said the command received a distress report on June 27, 2026, from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ohaozara regarding a medical emergency involving the deceased.

According to the statement, the DPO was requested to proceed to the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu, where Habila had been taken.

Upon arrival, hospital officials informed the officer that the 26-year-old had already been brought in dead.

Ukandu said the DPO immediately briefed the Commissioner of Police, who directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a full investigation.

According to the police, preliminary findings indicate that Habila and another medical professional were members of the medical team attached to the Minister of Works and had accompanied him to his hometown in Uburu.

The command said she later died in a room within the minister’s residential compound.

Police investigators have since visited the scene, obtained statements from relevant witnesses and commenced what the command described as a comprehensive investigation.

The statement added that detectives plan to engage a qualified pathologist to conduct a post-mortem examination to establish the actual cause of death and support the ongoing investigation.

However, the police disclosed that the deceased’s family had informed the command that they do not want an autopsy to be carried out.

Despite the family’s position, the command maintained that a post-mortem examination remains necessary because of the sensitive nature of the case.

According to the statement, the police are awaiting the attendance of the deceased’s family or their authorised representative, whose presence they said is required for the examination.

“The Ebonyi State Police Command assures the public of a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into this matter and will provide further updates as the case progresses,” the statement said.

The latest police update comes a day after Umahi again denied any wrongdoing in connection with Habila’s death.

At a news conference on Thursday, the minister said the deceased was a member of his household staff and explained that she contacted her boyfriend after developing a health emergency.

He said efforts were made to secure medical attention for her, but she later died.

Umahi has repeatedly called for an autopsy, maintaining that only a forensic examination can establish the true cause of death.

Earlier this week, however, the deceased’s father filed an affidavit before a High Court in Abakaliki opposing an autopsy and requesting that his daughter’s remains be released to the family for burial.

The circumstances surrounding Habila’s death have continued to generate public attention, with investigators seeking to establish the facts through the ongoing police inquiry.

No individual has been charged in connection with the case, and the investigation remains ongoing.