Umahi Demands Forensic Autopsy to Clear Name
Minister of Works David Umahi has petitioned the Inspector General of Police to transfer the investigation into the death of Mary Habila to Abuja. The nurse died on June 27 at the minister’s country home in Uburu, Ebonyi State. Public outrage and blackmail allegations forced the former governor to address the media. Umahi denies any involvement in the tragedy and insists on a full forensic examination. He intends to clear his name against the wishes of the family.
The deceased worked as a nurse at the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences. She was on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja. Preliminary medical records from the Turkish hospital suggest she died from severe nosebleeds. Her colleague found her body on the floor after forcing open her bedroom door. Hospital authorities confirmed she was dead on arrival.
A major standoff now delays the final burial. The family opposes the post-mortem examination based on their religious beliefs. The Ebonyi State Police Command insists that an autopsy remains crucial to establish the actual cause of death. Detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department have already visited the scene. They recovered evidence and took statements from occupants of the building.
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Political opponents and civil society groups are cashing in on the tragedy. Civil society groups demand an independent probe. Umahi claims extortionists are making ridiculous financial demands to stop tarnishing his reputation. He has instructed his lawyers to file cyber-stalking charges against an online platform for defamation. Civil litigation will commence immediately after the burial.
Student groups have joined the fray to support the minister. The National Association of Nigerian Students praised his call for a transparent inquiry. An affidavit by a colleague notes Habila returned from a hair salon before her death. She went to take a shower and never woke up. The corpse remains deposited in a local mortuary.