The Ebonyi State Police Command has insisted that a post-mortem examination will be conducted on the body of 26-year-old physiotherapist Mary Habila, who died at the residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, saying the procedure is necessary to determine the true cause of her death despite her family’s opposition.
The position was contained in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, dated July 15, 2026, but obtained by SaharaReporters on Thursday, amid growing public interest in the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death.
According to the police, the command was first notified of the incident on June 27 after the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ohaozara Division received a distress call over a medical emergency involving Habila.
“On 27th June 2026, Ebonyi State Police Command received a distress call from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ohaozara Division, reporting a medical emergency involving Miss Mary Habila and requesting his presence at David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu,” the statement said.
The police added that by the time the DPO arrived at the hospital, Habila had already been confirmed dead.
“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 command disclosed that preliminary findings showed Habila was part of the medical team attached to the Minister of Works and had travelled with him to his hometown before her death.
“Preliminary findings indicate that the deceased and a colleague formed part of the medical team attached to the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, and had accompanied him to his hometown in Uburu, where she died in a room within the compound of his residence,” the statement said.
According to the police, detectives have already visited the scene, interviewed relevant persons and are preparing for a forensic examination.
“The Command has since commenced a comprehensive investigation. Detectives have visited the scene and obtained statements from relevant persons. 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.”
Although Habila’s family has opposed an autopsy, the police said they consider it indispensable to the investigation.
“The family of the deceased has, however, claimed that they do not want any autopsy performed on their daughter. 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 statement said.
It added that investigators were awaiting the presence of Habila’s family or their authorised representative before proceeding.
“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 police assured the public that the investigation would be conducted transparently and professionally.
“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,” the statement added.
The latest development comes a day after SaharaReporters exclusively reported that Habila’s body had not been released to her family following legal advice from the Ebonyi State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), J.U. Chukwu, that only a post-mortem examination could determine the cause of her sudden and unnatural death.
The DPP had advised the police that a post-mortem examination would provide crucial evidence to guide investigators, although he noted that the police retained the discretion to either proceed with the autopsy or respect the family’s wishes.
According to the DPP, the available evidence showed that Habila was alone when she was found dead inside her apartment.
“That the evidence available shows that the deceased was alone at the time she was found dead in her apartment,” the legal advice stated.
The legal advice stated: “That there was no evidence that the deceased was indisposed, sick or unstable health wise prior to her sudden death, as she was full of life at the time she returned to Uburu in company of her team.”
It further revealed: “She laid lifeless on the floor of her apartment naked with blood stain on her nose and mouth.”
“There was no evidence that the deceased was indisposed, sick or unstable health wise prior to her sudden death, as she was full of life at the time she returned to Uburu in company of her team,” the DPP stated.
The DPP said the available evidence left investigators with one fundamental question.
“From the foregoing therefore, the question that would readily come to mind is what exactly caused the deceased sudden death?” the legal advice stated.
Raising questions over the circumstances surrounding her death, the DPP said the only way to establish what caused Habila’s sudden death was through a post-mortem examination.
“From the foregoing therefore, the question that would readily come to mind is what exactly caused the deceased sudden death? This curiosity under the law can only be resolved through a post mortem examination, so as to provide a clue to the police as to the direction of their investigation,” the legal advice stated.
Despite that conclusion, the DPP advised that the police exercise their discretion on whether to proceed with the autopsy or honour the wishes of Habila’s family.
“It is therefore the view of this office that the police invoke their discretionary power to either respect the request of the deceased family or proceed with the post mortem examination,” the legal advice added.
Habila died on June 27 at Umahi’s residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State. The case has drawn widespread attention following conflicting accounts of the circumstances surrounding her death and calls for an independent investigation. Police investigations into the incident are ongoing.
(SaharaReporters)