The family of late Mary Habila have petitioned Force Headquarters (NPF) Abuja, demanding immediate release of their daughter’s corpse for burial.
Addressing Journalists in Abuja on Friday, after submitting a petition to the inspector-general of police, the family’s legal representative, Kaile Yusuf, said the family has complied with all police procedures required for the release of Habila’s body, but was yet to receive it nearly three weeks after her death.
The deceased, Mary Habila, aka Mara, 26, was a nurse and staff of the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Science, Uburu, and attached to the minister, died on June 27, 2026, under controversial circumstances at his country home in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The father of the deceased nurse, Mr. Tanko Habila Wisdom, had filed an affidavit of withdrawal of case at the court, stating that the family does not suspect foul play as he rejected calls for a medical autopsy.
Yusuf alleged that the deceased’s body was being withheld without justification, claiming that the matter has been politicised.
He clarified that Mary Habila was a nurse, not a physiotherapist as widely reported.
According to him, she was employed by the David Umahi University of Health Sciences, Uburu, before she was seconded to the office of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, where she served for about three years.
He added that the family has her employment letter and salary records to confirm her status as a civil servant.
Yusuf further disclosed that although the minister of works has repeatedly requested that an autopsy be conducted, the family unanimously rejected the request on personal, cultural and traditional grounds.
“The family has resolved and remains firm in its decision not to allow an autopsy for personal, cultural and traditional reasons,” he said.
He also maintained that Mary Habila has been working in Abuja, before her death and dismissed allegations questioning her character.
Yusuf said the family had petitioned the inspector general of police over the continued withholding of the body by the Ebonyi State Police Command and appealed for urgent intervention to enable them give her a befitting burial.
Read also:
- Nigeria Society Of Physiotherapy Disowns Mary Habila, Says Deceased Not Registered
- Mary Habila’s Autopsy: Umahi’s Lawyers Ask Police To Stop Burial Until Post-Mortem Is Conducted
- Mary Habila’s Death: Police, Family Disagree Over Autopsy as Ebonyi Command Insists on Post-Mortem
Corroborating the lawyer’s submission, the deceased’s father, Tanko Habila, said the family’s only concern was to retrieve his daughter’s body for burial, adding the delay in releasing the body of the diseased for burial, even after he had made their position known, is not acceptable to the family.
“We don’t keep the body of a young child for this long. All I want is the corpse of my daughter so that we can bury her,” he said.
Asked whether the family supported an autopsy or suspected foul play, the bereaved father said they were not accusing anyone.
“I don’t want an autopsy. I just want the corpse of my daughter. I am not suspecting anybody. Death is a natural phenomenon that can happen to anyone when least expected. We only want to bury our daughter,” he said.
