The Ebonyi State Police Command has requested that an autopsy be carried out following the death of 26-year-old nurse, Miss Mary Habila.
The young lady was discovered dead at the Uburu country home of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed that the Commissioner of Police later ordered that the matter be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a comprehensive probe
According to The Punch, Ukandu revealed this in a statement released on Wednesday, July 16, 2026.
Mary Habila’s death: What preliminary findings showed
The police explained that preliminary investigations revealed that Miss Habila and her colleague, Miss Anita Baaki, were members of the medical team assigned to the minister and had accompanied him to his hometown in Uburu.
Ukandu stated that Habila’s body was found inside a room within the minister’s residential compound. Investigators have since visited the location and obtained statements from individuals considered relevant to the investigation.
The command also disclosed that efforts were underway to secure the services of a pathologist to carry out a post mortem examination. “The Command is set to engage the services of a pathologist to conduct a post-mortem examination that will help determine the cause of death and support the ongoing inquiry”
Mary Habila’s death: Family refuses autopsy
The investigation has encountered a major setback after the deceased’s family rejected the police request for an autopsy, insisting that the examination should not be conducted.
Despite the family’s position, the police maintained that a post mortem is crucial because of the sensitive nature of the case and the need to establish the exact cause of death without uncertainty.
According to Business Day, the police emphasized that an autopsy is an essential part of the ongoing investigation.
Ukandu further explained that the police were waiting for members of the deceased’s family, or a duly authorised representative, to be present before the examination could be conducted, noting that their attendance is a necessary requirement for the process.
The command also reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation, adding that additional updates would be provided as the inquiry progresses.
Umahi’s physiotherapist: Habila’s family announces next step
It would be recalled that the family earlier announced funeral arrangements for physiotherapist Mary Habila following her death at the residence of Minister David Umahi.
Umahi had requested that an autopsy be conducted after the 26-year-old was found dead at his Ebonyi home. The report detailed the positions of both the minister and Habila’s family, while several critical questions surrounding the circumstances of her death remain unresolved.
