The circumstances surrounding the death of physiotherapist Mary Habila inside the country home of Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, have taken a more controversial turn following fresh claims that she was found unclothed when her body was removed from the residence.
According to an exclusive report by SaharaReporters, photographs allegedly obtained during its investigation showed Habila without clothing after she was discovered dead inside the minister’s residence in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The outlet said it independently verified the authenticity and context of the images, although the claims have not been confirmed by the police or any official investigative body.
The latest revelations come barely a day after Umahi publicly confirmed that Habila died at his residence, insisting that she and another woman, Anita Baski, were physiotherapists employed by the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences and had been on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works for about three years. The minister described the incident as tragic and renewed his call for a comprehensive autopsy to establish the exact cause of death.
However, police sources familiar with the investigation reportedly disputed the minister’s account, claiming Habila and Baski travelled from Kaduna State and arrived at the residence on June 26. According to the sources, investigators believe the two women were brought to the minister’s home to attend to him, a version that differs from the official explanation that they were on formal government secondment.
Investigators further disclosed that Habila was found dead the following morning under circumstances that remain unclear. The case has since been transferred from the Ohaozara Divisional Police Headquarters to the Ebonyi State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Abakaliki for further investigation.
Police sources also identified Jonathan Bawado, a police officer serving as Umahi’s Personal Assistant and former Aide-de-Camp during his tenure as Ebonyi State governor, as the official who reportedly alerted medical personnel after Habila was found unresponsive. Medical officials, including the Chief Medical Director of the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, were subsequently contacted, while the police were notified in line with established procedures.
The incident has generated widespread public concern, particularly over questions surrounding the alleged secondment of university hospital staff to the minister’s private residence and the circumstances that led to Habila’s death. Civil society groups and members of the public have continued to demand a transparent and independent investigation.
Umahi has maintained that he personally advised Habila’s family to consent to an autopsy, describing it as the most credible means of determining the cause of death. He also urged the public to refrain from speculation while law enforcement authorities conclude their investigation.