The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed allegations linking him to the death of Mary Habila, a nurse at the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State, insisting that there was no foul play and describing attempts to implicate him as "politics taken too far."
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Umahi said the late nurse was like a daughter to him and his family, adding that her death came as a painful shock.
The minister's comments come amid growing public interest following the discovery of Habila's body at his residence in Ebonyi State, an incident that has sparked widespread debate and calls for a transparent investigation.
"She Was Like a Daughter to Me"
Umahi maintained that he had no reason to harm the deceased, stressing that she had lived with his family for three years and enjoyed a close relationship with them.
According to him, Habila was a nurse employed at the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences and had been receiving treatment for an existing medical condition at a hospital in Turkey.
The minister disclosed that he personally financed her latest medical trip in April, paying about ₦2.2 million for her treatment.
"The lady in question was like a daughter to me. She had stayed with me for three years. She was a staff of the Federal Medical University. She was a nurse, and the family and my family are like one family," Umahi said.
Umahi Speaks on Final Moments
Recounting events before Habila's death, Umahi said she had spoken with her boyfriend shortly before the incident and reportedly complained of bleeding from her nose.
According to him, the boyfriend advised her to seek medical attention and ended the call because he feared continued conversation could worsen the bleeding.
The minister claimed that when the boyfriend attempted to call her back a few minutes later, she no longer answered her phone.
He also stated that Habila had told her boyfriend she was about to take a bath, and when she failed to respond the following morning, the door to her room was forced open and she was found unresponsive, with the bathroom tap reportedly still running.
Calls for Autopsy
Umahi revealed that the family of the deceased had allegedly objected to an autopsy on cultural grounds, creating a deadlock in the investigation.
According to him, his legal team has insisted that an autopsy be conducted before the body is released for burial.
"We have been begging the family to allow an autopsy to happen, but they said it is against their culture. We have directed that the corpse cannot be removed until an autopsy is carried out," he stated.
The minister added that he had requested the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the investigation to Abuja to ensure transparency and to engage the family over the need for a post-mortem examination.
Warns Against Politicising Incident
Umahi accused some individuals of exploiting the tragedy for political purposes, insisting that linking him to the nurse's death without evidence was unfair.
He also disclosed that his lawyers had been instructed to pursue legal action against individuals he accused of spreading false information online, including allegations of cyberbullying and defamation.
While expressing sympathy to the deceased's family, Umahi urged Nigerians to allow the police to conclude their investigation before drawing conclusions.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force has not released the outcome of its investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mary Habila's death.