All We Want Is Her Body – Mary Habila’s Father Pleads with IGP for Daughter’s Release

All We Want Is Her Body – Mary Habila’s Father Pleads with IGP for Daughter’s Release

The family of the late Mary Habila, the 26-year-old nurse who died at the residence of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has formally petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, demanding the immediate release of her remains for burial. Her father, Tanko Habila, accompanied by his wife, other family members and their legal representatives, submitted the petition at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Friday, July 17, 2026. Speaking to journalists shortly after filing the petition, the grieving father expressed deep frustration that nearly two weeks after his daughter’s death on June 27, 2026, the Ebonyi State Police Command had refused to release her body to the family for burial. According to him, the family was not interested in an autopsy and had no reason to suspect foul play in the circumstances surrounding Mary’s death. He argued that sudden deaths can occur without necessarily involving criminality. “As we are standing here, somebody can fall and die. It has happened. All we want is her body to be buried,” Tanko Habila said.

The petition, submitted through the family’s solicitors, K.A. Yusuf & Associates, alleged that despite repeated applications, personal visits and compliance with all lawful requirements, the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police had continued to refuse to authorise the release of Habila’s body. The family argued that the prolonged withholding of the body has caused “immense emotional, psychological, financial and cultural hardship,” depriving them of the opportunity to perform customary and religious burial rites. According to an affidavit earlier filed before the High Court of Justice in Ebonyi State, the family stated that it did not suspect any criminal act or foul play in Habila’s death and therefore saw no need for further investigation. The family maintained that its decision was made voluntarily and without pressure, coercion or inducement from any person. The family asked the IGP to transfer the matter from the Ebonyi State Police Command to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, direct the immediate release of the body for burial, and investigate any officer found to have acted unlawfully.

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Despite the family’s opposition, the Ebonyi State Police Command has maintained that a post-mortem examination is critical to establishing the exact cause and circumstances of Habila’s death before concluding its ongoing investigation. Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed in a statement that the command received a distress call on June 27 from the Divisional Police Officer, Ohaozara Division, reporting a medical emergency involving Habila and requesting his presence at David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu. On arrival, the DPO was informed by hospital authorities that Habila had been brought in dead, prompting the Commissioner of Police to transfer the matter to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a thorough investigation. Preliminary findings indicated that Habila and a colleague were members of the medical team attached to the Minister of Works and had accompanied him to his hometown in Uburu, where she died in a room within the compound of his residence. “The Command considers the examination necessary, given the sensitive nature of the case and the imperative of establishing the true cause of death,” Ukandu stated. The command said it is awaiting the attendance of the deceased’s family or their duly authorised representative before the examination can be conducted.

Minister of Works David Umahi personally addressed the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death at a press conference in Abuja, describing her as a “daughter” and dismissing allegations linking him or his office to the incident. According to Umahi, Habila, a nurse employed by the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu, had lived with his family for about three years and had been battling an underlying medical condition for which he personally funded her treatment. He revealed that her latest medical bill amounted to about N2.2 million, which he said was paid by him. “The lady in question was like a daughter to me. She stayed with me for three years. She was a staff of the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu. She was a nurse, not a physiotherapist, and her family and my family are like one,” Umahi said. Umahi disclosed that available evidence indicated that Habila had spoken with her boyfriend shortly before her death, complaining of persistent nose bleeding. She was later found dead after colleagues forced open the door to her room, which had been locked from the inside, with the bathroom tap still running. The minister rejected claims of foul play and condemned attempts to politicise what he described as a painful personal loss. He also disclosed that he had requested the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the investigation to Abuja to guarantee transparency and public confidence in the process.

The case has generated widespread public attention, with conflicting accounts and social media speculation fuelling demands for a transparent investigation. The Allied People’s Movement (APM) has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend Umahi and order an open, independent inquest into the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has similarly urged the IGP to transfer the investigation from the Ebonyi State Police Command to Force Headquarters to guarantee transparency. The Southern Kaduna Youth Movement (SKYM) has also petitioned the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, seeking an independent investigation into the matter. Additionally, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the National Association of University Students (NAUS) have called for a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation, while the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has recommended that President Tinubu order Umahi to step down temporarily to allow for a comprehensive inquiry.

All We Want Is Her Body – Mary Habila’s Father Pleads with IGP for Daughter’s Release