The family of 26-year-old nurse, Mary Habila, who died at the country home of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has asked the Ebonyi State High Court to halt the ongoing police investigation into her death and release her body for burial.
The request was made in an affidavit deposed to by her father, Tanko Habila, who stated that the family does not suspect any foul play and would not consent to an autopsy.
According to the affidavit, as reported by Arise Television on Thursday, the family welcomed efforts to ascertain the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death but firmly rejected any post-mortem examination.
“While I welcome steps being taken to unravel the cause of my daughter’s death, my family and I will not accept any autopsy,” the affidavit stated.
Mary Habila was employed at the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences before she was seconded to the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja, where she served as a personal nurse to Minister Umahi and members of his immediate staff for about three years.
She reportedly died on June 27, 2026, at Umahi’s residence in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, after accompanying the minister to his hometown.
Following her death, Umahi requested that an autopsy be conducted to establish the cause of death. However, the family declined to grant consent, insisting that her body and organs should remain untouched.
In the affidavit, Tanko Habila further requested that all investigative and medical authorities discontinue further actions on the matter and release his daughter’s remains to enable the family to proceed with her burial.
“I also wish not to proceed further with the investigation and further request to have my daughter’s body released to me for burial,” the affidavit read.
The family also indicated that it would not honour any further invitations from the police or the court regarding the case, maintaining that it has no suspicion of foul play in Habila’s death.