The mystery surrounding the death of 26-year-old Mary Habila at the residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has taken a new twist as authorities continue to withhold her body from the family, insisting that a forensic autopsy must be conducted before any burial can take place.
Sources familiar with the investigation disclosed that the decision followed legal advice from the Ebonyi State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which maintained that the body could not be released while investigations into the controversial death remained ongoing.
The development comes despite the family’s earlier plan to bury Habila on Friday in her hometown of Nok, Kaduna State. Her father, Baba Habila, had travelled to a morgue in Abakaliki to receive her remains after indicating that the family would not request an autopsy before the burial.
However, investigators reportedly rejected the request, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the death require a comprehensive forensic examination before the body can be released.
Police sources involved in the case said an autopsy remains indispensable because the death is still the subject of an active criminal investigation. They argued that releasing the body before the completion of forensic and investigative procedures would undermine efforts to establish the true cause of death, particularly in view of the intense public interest generated by the case.
Mary Habila died on June 27, 2026, at Senator Umahi’s residence in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State under circumstances that remain unclear.
The case has attracted nationwide attention following conflicting narratives over the events preceding her death and growing demands for an independent, transparent and credible investigation.
Investigations revealed that Habila and another woman, Anita Baski, had travelled from Kaduna State to the minister’s residence, where Habila was later found dead less than 24 hours after their arrival.
Following public outrage, Senator Umahi confirmed that the deceased died at his residence and disclosed that he had advised the family to consent to an autopsy to establish the actual cause of death.
However, police sources have challenged portions of the minister’s account, particularly claims that Habila and Baski were employees of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences. According to investigators, available evidence has yet to substantiate that assertion.
Detectives are also scrutinising the sequence of events leading to Habila’s death, including those present at the residence, the actions taken after she was discovered unconscious and the timeline for seeking emergency medical assistance.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities have not publicly disclosed the cause of death, while police investigations and forensic procedures continue amid mounting public pressure for full accountability and transparency.