Mary Habila was like a daughter to me, says Umahi

Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria's Minister of Works, David Umahi, has spoken publicly about the death of Mary Habila, a nurse at the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, Uburu. Umahi described Habila, who died on June 27, 2026, at a guest house within his residence in Umunaga, Ebonyi State, as "like a daughter" to him. She had reportedly stayed with him for three years and was a staff member of the Federal Medical University.

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The lady in question was like a daughter to me. She had stayed with me for three years. She was a staff of the Federal Medical University. She was a nurse and not a physiotherapist.

Umahi clarified that Habila was a nurse, not a physiotherapist as some reports suggested. He explained that Habila and another female staff member were the sole occupants of the guest house, which is separate from his main residence. According to the minister, Habila spoke with her boyfriend on the night of her death, complaining of a nosebleed. He advised her to report the matter to her boss, and after a brief call, she became unresponsive when he tried to call back.

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The boyfriend then said he would not continue talking so the bleeding would not get worse. She begged him not to cut the call. He did. Three minutes later he called back. She was no longer picking.

Colleagues reportedly forced open her room door the following morning after she failed to respond to calls, finding her dead. Umahi mentioned that the tap was still running, suggesting she might have been preparing to bathe. He expressed sadness over attempts to politicize the incident, questioning why he should be held responsible because someone died in a guest house under the Ministry of Works.

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When they broke the door, they found her dead. The tap was still running. I think she wanted to have her bath.

The minister stated that he had requested an autopsy through his lawyers to determine the cause of death, but the family declined the procedure due to cultural reasons. He also revealed that Habila had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed medical condition at Turkish Hospital, Abuja, with his family covering the approximately N2.2 million in medical bills. He has instructed his lawyers to take legal action against those spreading what he described as false information.

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We told our lawyer that autopsy should be done. We are begging the parents to allow it. They said it is against their culture.