Mary Habila, the 26-year-old woman whose death at the residence of Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Ebonyi State sparked public concern and calls for an independent investigation, has been laid to rest in Nok, Kaduna State.
Key Highlights:
- Mary Habila, 26, was buried in Nok, Kaduna State, on August 21, 2026.
- She died on June 27 at Minister David Umahi’s residence in Ebonyi.
- Her death sparked controversy over the cause of death and proposed autopsy.
- Her family initially opposed the autopsy, while Umahi supported a forensic examination.
- Calls for a transparent investigation into her death continue.
Habila was buried on Friday, August 21, 2026, nearly two months after she died at the minister’s residence in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Her death on June 27 generated controversy over the circumstances surrounding what happened, with the police, the deceased’s family and other interested parties taking different positions on the proposed autopsy.
The Ebonyi State Police Command had insisted that a post-mortem examination was necessary to establish the actual cause of death and support its investigation.
At one stage, Habila’s family opposed the autopsy, with her father, Tanko Habila Wisdom, stating in an affidavit that the family did not suspect foul play and wanted her remains released for burial.
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Umahi, however, denied any wrongdoing and, through his legal representatives, requested that the police conduct a comprehensive forensic autopsy to establish the cause of Habila’s death and address speculation surrounding the case.
The controversy took another turn in July when Habila’s body was reportedly moved to the National Hospital in Abuja amid discussions over the proposed forensic examination.
Her eventual burial in Nok has brought an end to the immediate question of when she would be laid to rest, but questions surrounding the circumstances of her death remain a subject of public interest.
The burial also comes amid continued calls from some groups and individuals for a transparent investigation capable of establishing what happened before Habila’s death.
