Civil Society Forum Drags Umahi, Police to Court Over Mary Habila’s Death
A civil society organisation, Kwechiri Unity Forum, has instituted an action at the Federal High Court, Abuja, against the Minister of Works, David Umahi, the Inspector‑General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, and several others, in connection with the controversial death of Mary Habila, a nurse attached to the minister.
According to earlier reports, Ms Habila was brought in dead to the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, Uburu, Ebonyi State, on 27 June. She was said to have died under unclear circumstances at Mr Umahi’s residence in Uburu, where she was part of his medical team.
The defendants in the suit include the IGP, the Nigeria Police Force, the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, the Attorney‑General of the Federation, and Tanko Habila, father of the deceased.
The suit, filed on 17 July through counsel Eziafa Enwedo, seeks several reliefs. The CSO prays the court to:
● Compel investigation into Ms Habila’s death and mandate a formal autopsy.
● Declare public duty that authorities must preserve evidence relevant to unexplained deaths.
● Ensure impartiality in the investigation, regardless of the status of persons involved.
● Grant interim injunction restraining the release, burial, or disposal of Ms Habila’s body pending determination of the substantive suit.
● Preserve forensic evidence and ensure compliance with recognised investigative standards.
The organisation grounds its action on public interest, citing widespread concern generated by credible media reports. It argues that the Nigerian Constitution imposes a positive obligation on government to protect life and ensure effective investigation of suspicious deaths.
Meanwhile, Mr Umahi has publicly denied any cover‑up, stating that the matter was reported to the police and that he requested an autopsy to establish the cause of death. The deceased’s family, however, opposed the autopsy and scheduled burial for 17 July, prompting further contention. Police authorities in Ebonyi insisted on proceeding with the post‑mortem, assuring that the investigation would be “thorough, transparent, and impartial.”
The minister has also maintained that Ms Habila’s boyfriend confirmed she was ill before travelling to Ebonyi, urging the family to reconsider their opposition to the autopsy. Nonetheless, the family petitioned the IGP, demanding immediate release of the body for burial.
