Minister of Works, David Umahi, has broken his silence over the death of Mary Habila, a staff member who died in a ministry guest chalet in Uburu, Ebonyi State, describing her as “like a daughter” and insisting he has seen no evidence of foul play.
Speaking on Thursday during a press briefing in Abuja on newly approved infrastructure projects by President Bola Tinubu, Umahi said attempts to link him to the incident were politically motivated and unfair.
The minister disclosed that Habila, who had worked closely with him for about three years, was a nurse employed by the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State, and not a physiotherapist as widely reported.
“My lawyers have spoken on my behalf. But one piece of information I want to correct is that the lady in question was like a daughter to me. She had stayed with me for three years. She was a staff member of the Federal Medical University. She was a nurse and not a physiotherapist. Her family and my family are like one family,” he said.
Umahi revealed that Habila had been battling health challenges and was receiving treatment at a Turkish hospital, with the cost of her medical care allegedly paid by him.
“She has her medical records in Turkish Hospital, being paid by us. The last one was on April 5, and it cost me N2.2 million. The records are there. I paid N2.2 million,” he stated.
The minister also recounted what he described as Habila’s final conversation with her boyfriend shortly before her death, saying she reportedly complained of bleeding from her nose.
According to Umahi, the boyfriend advised her to seek medical attention, but she told him the bleeding had stopped and asked him not to end the call. He said the boyfriend later called back but received no response.
Umahi further stated that Habila had earlier informed her boyfriend she intended to take a bath before communication ceased.
“When they noticed something was wrong, they forced the door open and found her lying dead. The tap was still running,” he said.
The minister stressed that the facility where Habila died was a guest chalet designated for ministry staff and medical personnel and was located some distance from his personal residence.
“There is a guest house where she and other medical personnel stayed, and it is far from where I live. Does it mean that because somebody dies in the Ministry of Works, the minister must be held responsible?” he asked.
He described Habila as one of his most dedicated staff members and said her death had been a painful loss.
“It is very painful to me that the girl passed on. It is very difficult to replace her. She was one of my best workers,” Umahi said.
The minister appealed to Habila’s family to allow a forensic autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, disclosing that he had instructed that her body should not be released for burial until the examination was conducted.
“We have been pleading with the family to allow an autopsy, but they said it is against their culture. Through our lawyers, we insisted that an autopsy should take place. I have directed that the body should not be released until that is done,” he said.
Umahi also disclosed that he had requested the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the investigation to Abuja to ensure a comprehensive inquiry and facilitate further engagement with the deceased’s family.
According to him, Habila had previously experienced similar episodes of nosebleeding while accompanying him on official assignments, a claim he said was corroborated by her boyfriend.
He urged investigators to obtain the telephone records between Habila and her boyfriend, saying the call logs could assist in establishing the sequence of events before her death.
“I have asked the police to retrieve the call logs of both the girl and her boyfriend. They will hear the last conversation they had at the time of her death,” he said.
Despite calling for a thorough investigation, Umahi maintained that he had no reason to suspect criminal activity.
“I suspect no foul play because the other lady staying nearby was asleep, the room was locked from the inside, the door had to be forced open, and the tap was still running because she appeared to have been preparing to bathe,” he stated.
The minister also criticised the circulation of photographs allegedly taken at the mortuary, accusing some police officers of leaking misleading images that fuelled public speculation.
He vowed to pursue legal action against individuals and media organisations he accused of disseminating false information and engaging in cyberbullying over the incident.
“We are going to test the law against those involved in cyberbullying and spreading false information about this matter,” Umahi added.
