Mary Habila Was Like a Daughter to Me, Says Umahi

Minister of Works David Umahi has described the late Mary Habila as "like a daughter," following her death at his residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the incident, Umahi said Habila, a nurse at the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, had worked closely with him for about three years and had been battling health challenges, for which he personally funded her medical treatment.

Habila died on June 27, 2026, in a guest house within the minister's residence in Umunaga, Uburu. Umahi called for a comprehensive autopsy to determine the exact cause of her death, insisting that the investigation should be guided by scientific evidence.

He dismissed allegations of foul play and criticized attempts to link him to the incident, saying it was unfair to hold him responsible simply because the death occurred at a guest house on his property.

Umahi also announced that his legal team has been instructed to pursue action against individuals spreading what he described as false and defamatory information about the case on social media, adding that the matter could become a test case for cyberbullying laws in Nigeria.

Authorities are continuing investigations, while the autopsy is expected to provide further clarity on the circumstances surrounding Mary Habila's death.

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