Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Dr. Sam Amadi, has criticised the Federal Government’s handling of public accountability, describing the response to the death of Mary Habila as evidence of what he called a growing disregard for public morality.
Amadi made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television on Saturday while commenting on the death of Mary Habila, a nurse attached to the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, who died on June 27, 2026, at the Ebonyi residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi.
Questioning the manner in which the matter has been handled, Amadi said the minister ought to have made his statement to investigators rather than taking to the media while the case remains under investigation.
“The optics are bad David Umahi should have gone to the police to make a statement. Up until now the police is yet to issue an official statement,” he said.
He expressed concern that the Minister of Works had instead addressed the matter through a series of media appearances.
“He has rather been on a show granting press conferences, talking about the case and threatening law firms. This is rather reckless and irresponsible,” Amadi said.
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The political analyst argued that in cases involving sudden or controversial deaths, public confidence in the investigative process depends on law enforcement agencies taking the lead in communicating developments rather than individuals directly connected to the incident.
He also criticised what he described as the government’s approach to public accountability.
“This government has been proficient in disregarding public morality,” Amadi stated.
His comments come amid continued public interest in the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death.
While Senator Umahi has maintained that he suspects no foul play and has publicly supported an autopsy to establish the cause of death, the deceased’s family has opposed the procedure and petitioned the Inspector-General of Police for the release of her body for burial.
The Ebonyi State Police Command has yet to issue a detailed public statement on the status of its investigation into the incident.