Works Minister Umahi orders autopsy, rejects secrecy claims over aide’s death

Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has dismissed allegations of a cover-up surrounding the death of Mary Habila, a physiotherapist attached to the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS) and seconded to the Federal Ministry of Works, insisting that the incident was promptly reported to the police and handled transparently in accordance with the law.

The minister also vowed to take legal action against individuals and groups he accused of spreading false and defamatory reports about the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death, describing the allegations as an attempt to mislead the public and tarnish his reputation.

Speaking while inspecting ongoing construction work on the Ebonyi section of the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Superhighway, Umahi explained that the deceased’s family became alarmed after they were unable to reach her and eventually forced open the door to her room.

According to him, doctors from the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH) were immediately contacted and rushed Habila to the hospital, where medical personnel made desperate efforts to save her life.

“The family broke the girl’s door, called doctors from DUFUTH, who took her to the hospital and did everything possible to revive her, but unfortunately she did not survive,” the minister said.

Rejecting claims that the incident was concealed, Umahi maintained that the matter was reported to the police without delay.

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“The family reported the matter to the police, so where is the secrecy?” he queried, insisting that every necessary legal procedure was followed from the onset.

To establish the exact cause of death and put an end to speculation, the minister disclosed that he had directed that an autopsy be conducted with the consent of Habila’s parents.

He revealed that he had initially advised the family to approve a post-mortem examination immediately after her death, but they declined at the time. However, following widespread public debate and conflicting narratives surrounding the incident, he said an autopsy had become necessary to determine the true cause of death through scientific investigation.

Umahi further disclosed that Habila’s parents, who are currently in Ebonyi State, are expected to address journalists after the autopsy and may also pursue legal action against individuals accused of circulating false information about their daughter’s death.

Describing the late Habila as a committed and hardworking healthcare professional, the minister said she had worked closely with him for about three years after being seconded from the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences to the Federal Ministry of Works.

He noted that she carried out her professional duties diligently and regularly monitored his medical condition during official engagements.

Expressing sadness over her death, Umahi urged Nigerians to allow the police investigation and autopsy process to establish the facts instead of relying on rumours and unverified social media reports.

He condemned what he described as attempts to exploit the tragedy for political propaganda and online content creation, warning that such actions were insensitive to the deceased’s family.

The minister disclosed that he had instructed his legal team to commence court proceedings against those responsible for publishing what he described as falsehoods regarding the incident.

According to him, freedom of expression should not be used as a cover to spread misinformation capable of causing emotional distress to grieving families or damaging the reputation of innocent persons.

Umahi also dismissed separate allegations linking him to an alleged kidnap suspect said to have been recruited into the Ebubeagu security outfit during his tenure as Governor of Ebonyi State.

He challenged those making the claims to provide credible evidence, insisting that he had no personal relationship with the suspect and could not be held responsible for every individual recruited into the security outfit.

The minister reiterated his support for thorough investigations into all suspicious deaths and emphasized that the rule of law must prevail over speculation.

He maintained that the outcome of the police investigation and the autopsy would provide the answers Nigerians seek regarding Habila’s death.

The controversy has continued to attract nationwide attention, with many Nigerians calling for a transparent investigation to ensure accountability and restore public confidence.

Authorities are expected to release further details after the completion of the autopsy and ongoing police investigation.

Works Minister Umahi orders autopsy, rejects secrecy claims over aide’s death

Police rescue abducted Oyo headmaster after coordinated security operation

The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the release of Mathew Owoade, the abducted headmaster of Nomadic Basic School, Ogodu-Igbojaye, in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, following a coordinated security operation that mounted intense pressure on his abductors and compelled them to abandon him.

The 60-year-old educator and farmer regained his freedom on Monday evening, less than 48 hours after he was kidnapped by suspected gunmen along the Igbojaye–Budo Aare bush road, ending an ordeal that had sparked anxiety among residents, education stakeholders and the wider Oke Ogun community.

According to the Oyo State Police Command, the victim was rescued through a sustained joint operation involving police tactical teams and other security agencies, launched immediately after the incident was reported.

In a statement issued in Ibadan, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the swift deployment of security personnel and relentless investigative efforts forced the kidnappers to abandon the victim.

The police stated that the operation formed part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes across Oyo State.

“Following the immediate deployment of a coordinated joint security operation and sustained investigative efforts by the Command, the intense operational pressure mounted on the abductors forced the hoodlums to abandon the victim, who regained his freedom on the evening of July 13, 2026,” the statement said.

Following his release, Owoade was taken to a medical facility for evaluation and treatment to ensure he was in stable condition after the traumatic experience.

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The command disclosed that investigators would formally debrief the headmaster after his medical assessment to obtain useful intelligence that could assist in identifying the kidnappers, tracking their movements and bringing all those involved in the crime to justice.

Police authorities stressed that investigations remain ongoing, with operatives already pursuing credible leads aimed at dismantling the criminal network responsible for the abduction.

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Olugbenga Abimbola, commended the professionalism and collaboration demonstrated by security agencies, local vigilantes, hunters and members of the host community whose timely information contributed to the victim’s safe recovery.

He also appreciated residents for remaining calm and cooperating with security operatives throughout the rescue operation.

The police chief reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, assuring residents that no effort would be spared in ensuring that those responsible for the kidnapping are apprehended and prosecuted.

He further warned criminal elements operating within the state to desist from their activities or face the full weight of the law, stressing that Oyo State would not become a safe haven for kidnappers and other violent criminals.

The successful rescue comes just days after security agencies secured the release of dozens of pupils, teachers and caregivers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area, reinforcing what security officials describe as improved intelligence sharing and inter-agency collaboration in tackling insecurity across the state.

Although the circumstances surrounding Owoade’s release have not been fully disclosed, security experts say the operation reflects the growing emphasis on intelligence-led policing and coordinated security responses to kidnapping cases in Oyo State.

Residents of Itesiwaju and neighbouring communities have welcomed the headmaster’s release, while renewing calls for increased security patrols along rural roads and farming settlements that have increasingly become targets for armed kidnappers.

The Police Command appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing credible information that would assist security agencies in preventing crime and responding swiftly to security threats across the state.

Authorities assured residents that investigations would continue until every individual connected with the abduction is identified, arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Police rescue abducted Oyo headmaster after coordinated security operation

‘Highest Degree of Human Wickedness’: Appeal Court Upholds Death Penalty for Hafsoh’s Killer

The Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin has affirmed the death sentence imposed on self-acclaimed Islamic cleric, Abdulrahman Bello, for the gruesome murder of his lover, Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal, a 24-year-old final-year student of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin. In a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday by a three-member panel led by Justice Gabriel Omoniyi Kolawole, the appellate court dismissed Bello’s appeal, holding that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that he murdered the victim and was unlawfully in possession of human parts. The court consequently upheld the judgment of the Kwara State High Court, which sentenced Bello to death by hanging and imposed an additional 10-year jail term for unlawful possession of human parts, with an option of a ₦100,000 fine. The ruling brings a significant step toward justice for Lawal, whose brutal murder on February 10, 2025, at the Olunlade area of Ilorin sparked widespread public outrage across Kwara State and beyond. The case exposed the dark underbelly of social media-facilitated crimes, as Bello had lured his victim through Facebook before killing and dismembering her body for ritual purposes.

Bello, who presented himself as an Islamic cleric, met Lawal on Facebook and lured her to his residence in the Olunlade area of Ilorin on February 10, 2025. What followed was a premeditated and cold-blooded act of violence that shocked the nation. Police investigations revealed that Bello killed Lawal and dismembered her body, removing her palms and other body parts for ritual purposes. The gruesome discovery sent shockwaves through the community, with residents calling for swift justice. When security operatives stormed Bello’s apartment, they recovered a chilling array of evidence, including two human palms and other body parts, a container of human blood, an axe and a cutlass, a table and a wooden box of black soap, a sack of charms, and a book relating to money-making charms. The recovered items formed the cornerstone of the prosecution’s case against Bello and his alleged accomplices.

The appellate judgment followed a July 2025 verdict of the Kwara State High Court, where Justice Hannah Ajayi sentenced Bello to death after finding him guilty of murdering and dismembering Lawal. Delivering the trial judgment, Justice Ajayi described the crime as “the highest degree of human wickedness,” saying it was a “premeditated and cold-blooded act.” She held that Bello’s claim that he loved the deceased and intended to marry her was merely an afterthought designed to deceive the court. The trial judge also ruled that Bello’s conduct after committing the crime and before his arrest suggested that it might not have been his first involvement in such an act. The judge noted that Bello did not show himself as a witness of truth, as his denials were all afterthoughts. Justice Ajayi further held that the video and written confessional statements obtained by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police were lawfully admitted in evidence. She dismissed Bello’s allegation that he was tortured into making the confessions, ruling that the statements were voluntary and credible.

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Bello and four others were initially arraigned on charges bordering on conspiracy, murder, unlawful removal and possession of human parts and blood. Bello alone also faced a rape charge, of which he was eventually acquitted by the trial court. The five-count charge included conspiracy to murder, culpable homicide, dealing in human parts, and rape. While acquitting Bello of the rape charge, the trial court convicted him of murder and unlawful possession of human parts, sentencing him to death by hanging for the murder and imposing a 10-year prison term, with an option of a ₦100,000 fine, for the human parts offence. The court also discharged and acquitted the four other defendants — Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman and Abdulrahman Jamiu — after holding that the prosecution failed to establish their involvement in the offences.

At the appellate level, the prosecution was led by the Kwara State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Senior Ibrahim Sulyman, alongside the Chief State Counsel, Issa Zakari, and Assistant Chief State Counsel, B.L. Abdulsalam. The appellate court held that there was no merit in the appeal and consequently affirmed both the conviction and the sentence imposed by the trial court. According to the appellate court, the trial court properly evaluated the evidence before it and rightly concluded that the prosecution established the offences beyond reasonable doubt. The court held that Bello still retains any further rights of appeal available to him under the Constitution and other applicable laws, including the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Reacting to the judgment, the Kwara State Ministry of Justice described the decision as another significant milestone in the state’s criminal justice administration. “The judgment underscores the commitment of the Kwara State Ministry of Justice and the judiciary to ensuring that criminal cases are determined strictly in accordance with the law and the evidence presented before the courts,” the ministry stated in a release. “It also reaffirms the principle that persons found guilty of grave offences, after a fair trial, will be held accountable under the law.” The ministry further stated that the appellate court’s decision would strengthen public confidence in the justice system. “The affirmation of the conviction and sentence represents another milestone in the administration of criminal justice and reinforces public confidence in the rule of law and the appellate process.”

Reacting to the High Court judgment at the time, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, described the killing as tragic and commended the judiciary for ensuring justice. “The gruesome murder of Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal was pathetic, unfortunate, regrettable and worrisome,” the monarch said in a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Abdulazeez Arowona. “The judgment has further brightened the hope and trust of the people in the judiciary and security agencies. May Almighty Allah repose the soul of the late Hafsoh Lawal and comfort her family members.” The monarch also urged parents and guardians to be vigilant and closely monitor the activities and movements of their children and wards to prevent a recurrence of such incidents. Earlier, immediately after the murder in February 2025, the Emir had directed Imams across the state to use their Friday sermons to preach against ritual killings and other inhuman acts, emphasising the need to uphold morality and dignity in society.

Justice Ajayi, in her trial judgment, used the opportunity to caution the public, especially young people, on the dangers of social media interactions. She noted that the victim might still have been alive had she informed her family or friends about her plans to visit someone she met on Facebook. The case has since become a cautionary tale about the risks of online relationships and the importance of exercising caution when interacting with strangers on social media platforms.

With the appeal court’s decision now affirming the death sentence, Bello’s legal options are limited. He may exercise his right to appeal further to the Supreme Court, Nigeria’s highest judicial authority. However, legal practitioners note that while death sentences may be pronounced by Nigerian courts, executions can only be carried out after the exhaustion of all available appeals and subject to applicable constitutional and legal procedures. Until then, Bello remains in custody, awaiting the final determination of his case as the nation watches to see whether the ultimate justice will be served for the brutal murder of Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal.

‘Highest Degree of Human Wickedness’: Appeal Court Upholds Death Penalty for Hafsoh’s Killer