The family of Mary Habila, the 26-year-old nurse who died in Ebonyi State while on an official assignment with the Federal Ministry of Works, has rejected a forensic autopsy and asked that her body be released for burial, even as her close friend and colleague has recounted the final moments they shared before her death.
The latest developments emerged through separate affidavits filed before the Ebonyi State High Court, where Habila’s family insisted they do not suspect foul play, while her colleague, Anita Baaki, provided investigators with an account of the events leading up to the nurse’s death.
Mary Habila’s Friend Recounts Her Final Moments
According to Anita Baaki, a physiotherapist from Benue State and a close friend of the deceased, she travelled with Mary Habila and other officials of the Federal Ministry of Works from Abuja to Ebonyi State on June 24, 2026, for an official assignment under the Minister of Works, David Umahi.
Baaki stated that members of the minister’s team were accommodated in separate but adjoining rooms in a staff chalet within the minister’s country home in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area. She clarified that the facility was designated for ministry staff and associates and was not the minister’s personal residence.
She recalled that she last saw Mary Habila alive on the evening of June 26 after the nurse returned from having her hair done.
According to Baaki, Habila stopped by her room to show off her new hairstyle before they chatted and joked together.
“Mary told me she was tired and wanted to take a shower before sleeping. That was the last time I saw her alive,” Baaki stated in the affidavit.
Baaki said she became concerned the following morning when Habila failed to leave her room as expected. Repeated phone calls went unanswered, prompting her to knock on the door. When there was still no response and the room remained locked from the inside, she alerted a domestic staff member to search the premises.
After Habila could not be found elsewhere, other staff members were informed and the room was forced open.
Baaki said Mary Habila was found lying unconscious near the entrance of the room and was immediately rushed to the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, where doctors confirmed she was dead on arrival.
She added that her statement was made voluntarily to assist investigators in determining the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death.
Family Rejects Autopsy, Seeks Release of Body
In a separate affidavit dated July 13, Habila’s father, Tanko Habila, asked the Ebonyi State High Court to discontinue the police investigation into his daughter’s death and release her remains for burial.
He said the family did not suspect foul play and would not consent to an autopsy.
“While I welcome steps being taken to unravel the cause of my daughter’s death, my family and I will not accept any autopsy,” the affidavit stated.
Tanko Habila also requested that medical authorities leave his daughter’s body and internal organs untouched.
“I also wish not to proceed further with the investigation and further request to have my daughter’s body released to me for burial,” he stated.
The grieving father further said the family would not honour any future police or court invitations relating to the matter, maintaining that the decision was made freely and without pressure from anyone.
“While reiterating our request for the Nigerian Police to release my daughter’s corpse for burial, I wish to state that I was never induced, coerced or influenced in any way by anybody to make these depositions, as everything deposed here reflects the sincere wishes of my family and I,” he added.
Before her death, Mary Habila worked at the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences before she was seconded to the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja, where she served as a personal nurse to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and members of his immediate staff for about three years.
She died on June 27, 2026, after accompanying the minister on an official trip to his hometown in Uburu, Ebonyi State.
Police Insist Investigation Will Continue
Despite the family’s position, the Ebonyi State Police Command has maintained that investigations into Mary Habila’s death will continue.
Police spokesperson Joshua Ukandu said officers received a distress call on the day of the incident regarding a medical emergency involving Habila at the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital in Uburu.
According to the police, she had already died before arriving at the hospital, prompting the Commissioner of Police to transfer the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a thorough investigation.
The command said preliminary findings showed that Habila and Anita Baaki were members of the minister’s medical team and had travelled together to Uburu before the incident.
Police also maintained that a forensic examination remains necessary because of the sensitive nature of the case and the need to establish the exact cause of death.
Detectives have visited the scene, obtained statements from witnesses and are awaiting the attendance of the family or their representatives before proceeding with the planned post-mortem examination.
The command assured the public that the investigation would be transparent, impartial and conducted in accordance with the law, adding that further updates would be provided as the case progresses.
