Morganable News/Security&Justice
The insistence by authorities comes despite opposition from the deceased’s family, who have rejected calls for a post-mortem examination and sought to halt further police investigation into the incident.
kaNo —
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, and the Ebonyi State Police Command have insisted on conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death of a 26-year-old nurse, Mary Habila, whose body was reportedly discovered at a government-linked residence in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The insistence by authorities comes despite opposition from the deceased’s family, who have rejected calls for a post-mortem examination and sought to halt further police investigation into the incident.
Mary’s father, Tanko Habila, had approached the Ebonyi State High Court, requesting the withdrawal of the police probe into his daughter’s death. He also declined permission for an autopsy, maintaining that the family does not suspect foul play.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Joshua Ukandu, the command said it had already commenced a comprehensive inquiry into the incident and was taking steps to ensure all necessary procedures were followed.
According to Ukandu, detectives have visited the scene, gathered preliminary evidence, and obtained statements from individuals connected to the case.
He added that the command was in the process of engaging a qualified pathologist to carry out a post-mortem examination.
“The command has since commenced a comprehensive investigation. Detectives have visited the scene and obtained statements from relevant persons,” Ukandu said.
“The command is set to engage the services of a pathologist to conduct a post-mortem examination that will help determine the cause of death and support the ongoing inquiry,
“The family of the deceased has, however, claimed that they do not want any autopsy performed on their daughter.
“The command nonetheless considers the examination necessary, given the sensitive nature of the case and the imperative of establishing the true cause of death,” the statement added.
The police further assured the public of a transparent and impartial investigation, pledging to provide updates as new developments emerge.
David Umahi Appeals To Deceased Family
Similarly, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has appealed directly to the deceased’s family to reconsider their stance and allow an autopsy to be conducted, stressing that it is necessary to uncover the exact cause of death.
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja, where he addressed journalists on newly approved infrastructure projects under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, Umahi disclosed that he had instructed that the body should not be released for burial until the post-mortem examination is completed.
Umahi described the late nurse as someone very close to him and his family, noting that she had lived and worked with him for about three years.
Mary Was Like A Daughter To Me-Umahi
“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,” he said.
“She was a staff member of the Federal Medical University. She was a nurse and not a physiotherapist. And her family and my family are like one family.”
Providing further insight into her health history, the minister revealed that the deceased had been battling certain medical challenges and had received treatment at a Turkish hospital, with the expenses reportedly covered 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,” Umahi stated.
He also gave what he described as an account of her final moments, citing a conversation between the deceased and her boyfriend shortly before her death.
The boyfriend reportedly advised her to seek medical attention and ended the call, only to attempt to reach her again minutes later without success.
“She spoke to her boyfriend at the hour of her death and complained that she was bleeding from the nose,” Umahi said.
“The boyfriend said she should report it. She said it had stopped. He then ended the call. When he called back three minutes later, she was not responding.”
“Earlier, she told her boyfriend she was going to bathe because she had locked her door. When they discovered something was wrong, they broke down the door and found her dead. The tap was still running,” he said.
Umahi sought to distance himself from insinuations of wrongdoing, noting that the facility where the incident occurred was a guest house used by medical personnel and located far from his personal residence.
“There is a guest house where she and other medical personnel stayed, and that is very far from where I stay,” he explained.
“Does it mean that because somebody dies in the Ministry of Works, the minister must be accountable for that?”
Umahi Warns Against Politicizing Mary’s Death
The minister also expressed concern over what he described as attempts to politicise the death, warning against drawing premature conclusions.
“People should be careful when they want to use the unfortunate death of a young girl to play politics,” he said.
He described the late nurse as one of his most dedicated staff members, adding that her death had left him deeply saddened.
“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,” he said.
The standoff between authorities and the deceased’s family has raised questions about cultural sensitivities and legal procedures surrounding autopsies in Nigeria, particularly in cases where families oppose post-mortem examinations on religious or traditional grounds.
Investigators, however, maintain that determining the cause of death through scientific means remains essential, especially in cases involving sudden or unexplained deaths.
