The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has broken his silence over the death of Miss Mary Habila, a staff member who died at his residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State, insisting there was no foul play and describing the deceased as “like a daughter” to him.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Umahi dismissed insinuations linking him to the incident, saying attempts to politicise the tragedy had gone too far.
The minister disclosed that Habila had lived and worked closely with him for about three years and enjoyed a close relationship with his family.
He clarified that the deceased was a nurse employed by the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State, and not a physiotherapist as widely reported.
According to Umahi, the 26-year-old had a history of medical challenges for which he personally funded her treatment over the years.
He revealed that shortly before her death, Habila had a telephone conversation with her boyfriend during which she complained of bleeding from her nose.
“She spoke to her boyfriend at the hour of her death and complained that she was bleeding from the nose,” Umahi said.
According to the minister, the boyfriend advised her to report the condition, but she responded that the bleeding had stopped.
“The boyfriend said, ‘No, you have to report it.’ She said it had stopped. The boyfriend then said, ‘Listen, I will not continue this conversation since you are bleeding. It will increase the bleeding.’
“She told the boyfriend, ‘Don’t cut the call.’ The boyfriend cut the call. Three minutes later, the boyfriend called again. She was not responding,” Umahi recounted.
READ ALSO: Dalung Demands Transparent Probe Into Woman’s Death At Umahi’s Abuja Residence
He added that Habila had earlier informed her boyfriend that she intended to take a bath before communication with her ceased.
Maintaining that there was no evidence of foul play, Umahi appealed to the deceased’s family to allow an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
He disclosed that he had instructed that the body should not be released for burial until the autopsy was conducted.
“My lawyers have spoken on my behalf. But one piece of information I want to correct is that the lady in question was like a daughter to me.
“She had stayed with me for three years. She was a staff member of the Federal Medical University. She was a nurse and not a physiotherapist. And her family and my family are like one family,” he said.
Meanwhile, the family of Mary Habila has announced the indefinite postponement of her burial, which was initially scheduled for Friday, July 17.
In a statement issued on Thursday by Elisha Haruna on behalf of the family, the postponement was attributed to unforeseen circumstances.
“We wish to inform family, friends, and well-wishers that the burial ceremony of our beloved daughter, Mary Habila, has been postponed until further notice due to unforeseen circumstances,” the statement read.
The family apologised for the change in plans, thanked Nigerians for their support and prayers, and assured the public that a new burial date would be announced in due course.
The development comes amid an ongoing disagreement over the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death, with the Ebonyi State Police Command insisting that an autopsy is necessary to establish the actual cause of death before releasing her body to the family for burial.