Minister of Works, David Umahi, has formally requested the police to ensure that a thorough autopsy is carried out on the body of Mary Habila before her remains are released for burial.
The request was conveyed through a petition submitted to the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police by the minister’s legal representatives.
The letter, dated July 15, 2026, was received by the Ebonyi State Police Command on the same day.
According to the petition, the lawyers said they were acting on the instruction of the minister following the death of Habila under circumstances that are currently the subject of police investigation.
The legal team explained that Habila was a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, Uburu. She was also serving on secondment with the Federal Ministry of Works before her death.
They stated that she died on June 27, 2026, in a residential facility occupied by staff members and other personnel working with the minister in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The lawyers clarified that the deceased was not living in the same building as Umahi. According to them, the facility where the incident occurred was designated for aides, workers and other individuals attached to the minister.
They further disclosed that on the night of the incident, Habila was in the building alongside another female occupant identified as a physiotherapist.
In the petition, the legal representatives urged the police to ensure that a comprehensive forensic examination is conducted to establish the exact cause of death.
They specifically called for the involvement of qualified forensic pathologists, noting that scientific findings would help determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and provide clarity on what transpired.
The lawyers also requested that the body of the deceased should not be released to any individual, including members of her family, until the autopsy and all necessary investigative procedures have been concluded.
According to the petition, the move is intended to protect the integrity of the investigation and prevent any actions that could affect efforts to establish the facts surrounding the death.
The legal team maintained that allowing investigators to complete all relevant examinations before burial would help eliminate speculation and ensure that the true cause of death is determined through a transparent process.
The police have yet to publicly comment on the petition. However, the development is expected to form part of the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death.
The case has continued to attract public attention, with many awaiting the outcome of the police inquiry and any findings that may emerge from the proposed forensic examination.
Recall, Politics Nigeria earlier reported that Mary Habila died on June 27 in a staff residential facility within the minister’s premises in Uburu.
