By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
The Ebonyi State Police Command has insisted that a forensic autopsy must be conducted on the remains of Miss Mary Habila before her body is released for burial, despite the family’s opposition, saying the examination is indispensable to establishing the true cause of her death and ensuring a credible investigation.
The position of the Command was contained in a press statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, following ongoing investigations into the death of Habila, a member of the medical team attached to the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi.
According to the police, the Command received a distress call on June 27, 2026, from the Divisional Police Officer, Ohaozara Division, reporting a medical emergency involving Habila and requesting his presence at the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu.
The statement said that upon arrival at the hospital, the DPO was informed by medical personnel that Habila had been brought in dead, prompting the Commissioner of Police to immediately transfer the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a detailed investigation.
Preliminary investigations, the police said, revealed that the deceased and another colleague were part of the medical team attached to the Minister of Works and had accompanied him to his hometown in Uburu, where she later died in a room within the compound of his residence.
The Command disclosed that detectives have visited the scene, obtained statements from relevant persons and concluded arrangements to engage a forensic pathologist to carry out a post-mortem examination.
However, the police said the deceased’s family had objected to the planned autopsy.
“The family of the deceased has, however, claimed that they do not want any autopsy performed on their daughter. The Command nonetheless considers the examination necessary, given the sensitive nature of the case and the imperative of establishing the true cause of death,” Ukandu said.
He added that the police would not compromise investigative standards, stressing that the Command was awaiting the attendance of the deceased’s family or their duly appointed representative before proceeding with the examination.
“The Command therefore awaits the attendance of the family or their duly appointed representative, as their presence is essential to the conduct of the post-mortem examination,” the police spokesman stated.
Ukandu further assured that the investigation would be conducted professionally and without bias.
“The Ebonyi State Police Command assures the public of a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into this matter and will provide further updates as the case progresses,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has also formally requested the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that a comprehensive forensic autopsy is conducted before Habila’s remains are released to her family.
In a letter dated July 15, 2026, addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, Umahi’s solicitors, Roy & Associates, said the request was made in the interest of justice and transparency.
The letter, signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Roy O. U. Nwaeze, stated that Habila was a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, who was on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works and died in a staff accommodation located within the minister’s residential compound, but separate from his personal residence.
According to the solicitors, the deceased did not reside in the same building as the minister, adding that the accommodation was designated exclusively for members of his staff and other officials working with him.
The letter further stated that only the deceased and another female physiotherapist occupied the building on the night of the incident.
“Our Client respectfully requests that the Nigeria Police Force cause a comprehensive autopsy to be conducted on the remains of the deceased by qualified forensic pathologists for the purpose of scientifically and independently ascertaining the actual cause and circumstances of her death,” the letter read.
The solicitors also urged the police not to release the remains to any individual, including the deceased’s next of kin, until the autopsy and all related investigative procedures had been concluded.
“This request is made to preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation, eliminate speculation, and ensure that the true cause of death is conclusively determined before the remains are interred,” the letter added.
