By our reporter 16.7.2026
Nigeria’s minister of works David Umahi Thursday insisted that there was no foul play in sudden death of Miss Mary Habila, who died at his residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State.
Mr. Umahi who was speaking to journalists in Abuja disclosed that like every Nigerian he was eager to know what caused the death of Miss Haliba whose family requested remains to be brought home for burial on Friday.
According to Umahi the night before she died, she told her boyfriend, she was suffering from a nosebleed and in the morning, she was discovered unresponsive in her room.
“The lady in question was like a daughter to me. She had stayed with me for three years. She was a staff of the Federal Medical University. She was a nurse and not a physiotherapist,” Umahi said.
“She told the boyfriend she was bleeding from the nose. The boyfriend advised her to report it to her boss. She later told him the bleeding had stopped.
“He then said he would end the call so she could rest. She pleaded with him not to end the conversation, but he did. About three minutes later, he called back and she was no longer answering her phone,” the minister said.
Umahi said Habila’s colleagues became concerned the following morning after repeated attempts to reach her failed.
“When they broke the door, they found her dead. The tap was still running. I think she wanted to have her bath,” he said.
‘I asked my lawyers to request autopsy’
“We told our lawyer that an autopsy should be done. We are appealing to the parents to allow it. They said it is against their culture,” he said.
Umahi also revealed that he had reported the matter to the Inspector-General of Police and requested that the investigation be transferred to Abuja.
He disclosed that Haliba was suffering from underlaying illness for which she was being treated at the Turkish Hospital in Abuja.
David Umahi...demands for autopsy.