…Says deceased spoke with boyfriend shortly before death, dismisses allegations of foul play
By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has broken his silence over the death of Mary Habila, dismissing allegations linking him to the incident and insisting that the deceased was a nurse, not a physiotherapist as widely reported.
Umahi, who described Habila as a family member and “like a daughter” to him, said there was no foul play in her death, stressing that available medical records, phone call logs and other evidence would help clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The minister spoke on Thursday in Abuja while responding to questions from journalists during a press briefing on the latest updates on ongoing Federal Government projects across the country.
According to Umahi, Habila had lived with him for about three years and was a staff member of the Federal Medical University. He said she had received medical treatment at Turkish Hospital, with her medical records available for verification.
He said the deceased had spoken with her boyfriend shortly before her death, informing him that she was bleeding from the nose.
Umahi said the boyfriend advised her to seek medical attention and subsequently attempted to call her again, but she did not respond.
The minister said the phone records and the last conversations between Habila and her boyfriend were verifiable evidence that should be examined by investigators.
He also dismissed reports suggesting that Habila was killed in his residence, explaining that she stayed in a separate guest house, far from where he personally resided.
Umahi said the guest house accommodated medical personnel and that the deceased was among people who had been under the care and protection of his family.
He described the allegations against him as painful and unfortunate, accusing some individuals of attempting to exploit the young woman’s death for political purposes.
“When you want to use the unfortunate death of a young girl to play politics, be careful,” the minister warned, adding that the deceased was “like a daughter” to him.
Umahi further disclosed that he had, through his lawyer, called for an autopsy to determine the actual cause of death.
He said the family had reportedly objected to the autopsy on religious grounds, but stressed that the remains should not be moved until the necessary examination had been conducted.
The minister also urged the deceased’s family to allow the autopsy, saying it would help establish the facts and put an end to speculation surrounding her death.
He said he had directed the police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including examining the last communication between Habila and her boyfriend.
Umahi said the relevant phone records and medical history should be thoroughly examined, adding that the case should not be turned into a political controversy.
The minister also expressed deep sadness over Habila’s death, saying she had been an important member of his extended family and that her death had been difficult for him to accept.
He appealed for caution in public commentary on the matter, warning against making unsubstantiated allegations over the death of the young woman.
The minister said he was prepared to cooperate with investigations and reiterated that the truth could only be established through proper forensic and medical procedures, including an autopsy.
