The Ebonyi State Police Command has reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out an autopsy on the body of 26-year-old Mary Habila, the physiotherapist who died at the country residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, saying the procedure is necessary to determine the actual cause of her death.
The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, amid growing public interest in the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death.
According to the police, the case was first reported on June 27, 2026, after the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ohaozara Division received information about a medical emergency involving Habila and proceeded to the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital in Uburu.
“On arrival, the DPO was informed by hospital authorities that Miss Mary Habila had been brought in dead. He immediately briefed the Commissioner of Police, who directed that the matter be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for thorough investigation,” the statement said.
The police disclosed that preliminary findings showed Habila and another medical practitioner were members of the medical team attached to the Minister of Works and had travelled with him to his hometown in Uburu.
According to the statement, Habila died in a room within the compound of the minister’s residence.
The command said detectives have since visited the scene, interviewed relevant persons and commenced a full-scale investigation into the incident.
It added that arrangements were underway to engage the services of a pathologist to conduct a post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death and assist investigators.
“The Command is set to engage the services of a pathologist to conduct a post-mortem examination that will help determine the cause of death and support the ongoing inquiry,” the statement added.
The police, however, revealed that Habila’s family had opposed the autopsy.
“The family of the deceased has, however, claimed that they do not want any autopsy performed on their daughter,” the statement read.
Despite the family’s position, the command maintained that the examination remains necessary because of the nature of the case.
“The Command nonetheless considers the examination necessary, given the sensitive nature of the case and the imperative of establishing the true cause of death.”
The police further stated that they are awaiting the presence of Habila’s family or their authorised representative, explaining that their attendance is required before the post-mortem examination can be conducted.
“The Command therefore awaits the attendance of the family or their duly appointed representative, as their presence is essential to the conduct of the post-mortem examination,” the statement added.
The Ebonyi State Police Command assured the public that the investigation would be conducted professionally and without bias.
“The Ebonyi State Police Command assures the public of a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation into this matter and will provide further updates as the case progresses,” Ukandu said.
Mary Habila died on June 27 under circumstances that remain unclear at the residence of the Minister of Works in Uburu, Ebonyi State.
The incident has attracted widespread public attention and sparked calls from various quarters for a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.