Mary Habila’s Death: Friend reveals final moments as Umahi seeks forensic investigation

By Denis Agbo

The circumstances surrounding the death of Mary Habila, a nurse attached to the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences (DUFUS) and on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works, have become clearer following a sworn statement by her colleague and close friend, Anita Baaki.

Baaki, a physiotherapist from Benue State, said she was among members of staff who travelled from Abuja to Ebonyi State on June 24, 2026, for official duties under the Minister of Works, David Umahi.

According to her affidavit filed before the Ebonyi State High Court, the staff members were accommodated in separate but adjoining rooms in a staff chalet located within the minister’s country home in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area. She clarified that the building was designated for staff members and associates, not for the minister’s personal residence.

On the evening of June 26, Habila returned after having her hair done and stopped by Baaki’s room to show her the new hairstyle. The two chatted and joked before Habila said she was tired and intended to take a shower before going to bed.

“Mary told me she was tired and wanted to take a shower before sleeping. That was the last time I saw her alive,” Baaki stated.

The following morning, Baaki became concerned when Habila did not come out as usual. Repeated phone calls went unanswered, prompting her to knock on Habila’s door. Finding it locked from the inside and receiving no response, she alerted a domestic staff member to search the premises.

When Habila could not be found elsewhere, other staff members were informed, and the room was forcibly opened. She was discovered lying unconscious on the floor near the door.

She was immediately taken to the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, where doctors confirmed that she was dead on arrival.

In her affidavit, Baaki stated that her testimony was given voluntarily and without coercion, emphasizing that she was making the statement solely for official and investigative purposes.

Umahi Requests Forensic Autopsy:

As investigations continue, legal representatives acting for Minister David Umahi have formally requested the Ebonyi State Police Command to conduct a comprehensive forensic autopsy before Habila’s body is released for burial.

In a letter addressed to the Commissioner of Police, the minister’s lawyers said the request was made to ensure transparency, protect the integrity of the investigation, and establish the true cause of death.

The lawyers clarified that Habila was staying in accommodation reserved for staff members and associates, not in the minister’s personal residence. They noted that on the night of the incident, only Habila and Anita Baaki occupied the building.

The legal team urged the police to engage qualified forensic pathologists to determine the precise cause and circumstances of Habila’s death. They also requested that the remains not be released to her family—including her next of kin, Tanko Habila Wisdom of Jaba Local Government Area, Kaduna State—until the autopsy and all necessary investigative procedures are completed.

According to the lawyers, delaying the release of the body until forensic examinations are concluded would help preserve evidence, reduce speculation, and ensure that any conclusions about the death are based on scientific findings rather than assumptions.

Police investigations into the circumstances surrounding Mary Habila’s death are ongoing, with the forensic examination expected to play a central role in determining the cause of her death.

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