Mary Ugwoma’s Death: Husband Denies Abuse, Cites Brain Haemorrhage Report

Moses Ukoh, husband of the late 40-year-old Mary Ugwoma, has denied allegations that he was responsible for her death, insisting that she suffered a medical emergency after years of managing hypertension.

In an interview with Saturday Punch, Ukoh recounted how his wife collapsed after returning from church in Abuja, the efforts to secure treatment and her death on September 7. He also denied claims that he physically abused her during their marriage, saying he was ready to cooperate with any investigation.

The controversy followed allegations reportedly made online by Mary’s niece, Precious, who questioned the circumstances surrounding her aunt’s death. Ukoh rejected the claims and suggested they might be connected to past family disagreements, although he acknowledged that he could not establish the motive behind them.

According to Ukoh, he left home early on Saturday for work and stayed overnight because of transportation difficulties. He said he spoke with Mary by phone at about 7 p.m. and she appeared to be fine.

A neighbour called him between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. the following day to report that Mary had collapsed shortly after returning from church. He was told she had dropped her bag, bought snacks from a nearby shop and eaten before suddenly falling ill.

Ukoh said he asked neighbours to take her to Medford Hospital on Katampe Road, Abuja. On arrival, he moved her to Clover Hospital in Wuse 2, where her blood pressure was reportedly reduced from about 250 to 135/95.

A cardiologist subsequently advised that she be transferred to the National Hospital, Abuja, because Clover Hospital lacked some equipment needed to manage her condition.

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At the National Hospital, Mary was placed on oxygen and underwent a CT scan, which reportedly revealed bleeding in her brain. Ukoh said doctors told him she needed surgery, intensive care and life-support equipment, but the necessary facilities were not immediately available.

He said other hospitals, including Garki General Hospital, the Federal Medical Centre in Jabi and a facility in Gwagwalada, were mentioned as alternatives. Mary remained at the National Hospital, where a bed or space eventually became available. Doctors reportedly gave her a 50-50 chance of survival, but she died on September 7.

Ukoh said the medical report listed the cause of death as “cardiopulmonary arrest and massive pontine haemorrhage”. He said doctors explained that she had suffered bleeding in the brain following a blood vessel rupture, which he associated with her severe hypertension. The medical report was not independently examined for this account.

He said Mary had managed high blood pressure for about 10 years and had previously experienced a collapse. He added that a formal death certificate was expected as part of the process of releasing her body from the mortuary.

Ukoh said he contacted Mary’s elder brother after she was admitted to hospital and also informed her elder sister, whose husband was in Keffi, Nasarawa State. Her sister arrived at about 10 a.m., while he called her brother around 3 a.m. after doctors warned that her condition was critical. He said her brother could not arrive before she died.

Rejecting allegations of domestic violence, Ukoh said disagreements between him and Mary were resolved without physical confrontations. He said he was unaware of any formal police complaint against him but would cooperate with the authorities if an investigation were opened.

He linked the controversy to earlier disagreements involving Precious, who, according to him, stayed with the couple for two to three months when she was about 13 or 14 years old. He said tensions developed between her, Mary and a neighbour who was married to his younger brother, after which he returned Precious to her family. He added that they later reconciled.

Ukoh said Precious subsequently left her daughter in his household, where the child was cared for and enrolled in school alongside his own children. He recounted further disagreements over the child’s care, including an occasion when Precious’s mother collected her before the child later returned to his home.

Ukoh said he suspected these family disputes might have influenced the allegations, but offered no independent evidence linking them to the claims. Precious’s response to his account was not included in the interview, and the allegations against Ukoh have not been independently established.

He said he learnt of the accusations through videos circulating on WhatsApp and contacted an in-law in Keffi to ask the family to issue a statement. According to Ukoh, the in-law said the family did not support the allegations, but later told him that Precious had said she would act as she wished and take responsibility for her actions.

The dispute also affected Mary’s burial arrangements. Ukoh said that, under the Igede custom as he understood it, the husband could propose a burial date, but the deceased woman’s family made the final decision.

He said some of Mary’s relatives initially halted the arrangements, prompting him to travel to the village to meet family elders. The family eventually fixed October 1 and 2 for the burial. Ukoh said he had proposed September 25 and 26 for work-related reasons, but the family preferred a later date to accommodate relatives travelling from distant locations.

Mary celebrated her 40th birthday on July 10, 2026. While Ukoh maintains that she died following a medical emergency and denies any role in her death, the circumstances and allegations surrounding the case would require appropriate investigation before any conclusion could be reached.