The death of Mary Habila, a nurse attached to the Office of the Minister of Works, has taken turn after her family formally rejected an autopsy and requested that all further investigations be stopped. However, the Ebonyi State Police Command has insisted that the investigation will continue despite the family’s position.
The development has drawn public attention because of Habila’s role as a personal nurse to the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi.
According to an affidavit titled “Affidavit of Withdrawal of Case,” filed before the High Court of Justice of Ebonyi State, Habila’s father, Tanko Habila Wisdom, said the family had decided against any post-mortem examination.
The affidavit stated that Mary Habila died on June 27, 2026, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Before her death, she worked at the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences. She was later seconded to the Federal Ministry of Works in Mabushi, Abuja.
For about three years, she reportedly served as a personal nurse to the Minister of Works and members of his immediate staff.
According to the affidavit, the Minister of Works requested that an autopsy be carried out to determine the cause of her death.
However, her family declined the request.
“While I welcome steps being taken to unravel the cause of my daughter’s death, my family and I will not accept any autopsy on my daughter’s body,” the affidavit stated.
Furthermore, the family appealed to medical authorities and investigators not to interfere with her body or internal organs.
The document also requested that the body be released immediately for burial without further investigation.
“I also wish not to proceed further with the investigation and further request to have my daughter’s body released to me for burial,” the affidavit added.
Moreover, the family said it would not honour future invitations from either the police or the courts regarding the matter.
According to the affidavit, the family does not believe any crime was committed.
It also stressed that the decision was made voluntarily.
“While reiterating our request for the Nigerian Police to release my daughter’s corpse for burial, I wish to state that I was never induced, coerced or influenced in any way with anything or by anybody to make these depositions, as everything deposed here reflects the sincere wishes of my family and I.”
Despite the family’s position, the Ebonyi State Police Command has maintained that the investigation will continue.
In a statement issued by Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, the command explained that it received a distress call on June 27 regarding a medical emergency involving Habila.
Police said officers were informed that she had already died before arriving at the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu.
Consequently, the Commissioner of Police directed that the matter be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for detailed investigation.
Furthermore, investigators revealed that Habila had travelled with the Minister of Works and members of his medical team to Uburu before the incident occurred.
According to police findings, she died inside a room within the minister’s residential compound.
Detectives have since visited the location and obtained statements from relevant individuals connected to the matter.
Meanwhile, arrangements are being made to engage a pathologist to conduct a post-mortem examination.
Police believe the examination remains important in determining the true cause of death.
The command acknowledged the family’s refusal to approve an autopsy.
However, it insisted that the procedure remains necessary “given the sensitive nature of the case and the imperative of establishing the true cause of death.”
In addition, investigators said they are awaiting the attendance of the family or their appointed representative before carrying out the examination.
