A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), the Kwechiri Unity Forum, has dragged the Minister of Works, David Umahi, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, and father of Mary Habila to court over the death of Ms Habila.
According court documents sighted on Monday, the CSO filed the suit through its legal team, led by Eziafa Enwedo, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 17.
Habila, a female nurse attached to Umahi, was brought dead to the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, Uburu, Ebonyi State, on June 27.
Aside from the IGP and Umahi, others listed as defendants are the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and Tanko Habila, father of the late Habila.
The group asked the court to compel the IGP and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate Habila’s death and conduct a formal autopsy on her body.
It appealed to the court to declare that public authorities have a duty to protect evidence that may aid an investigation into unexplained deaths.
The group asked the court that Habila’s death ought to be investigated impartially, irrespective of the status or office of the person who possesses relevant information.
The CSO prayed the court to grant an interim injunction, restraining the respondents from “releasing, burying, interring, cremating or otherwise disposing of the body of the late Habila pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The group also asked the court to order the respondents to preserve all available evidence relating to Habila’s death pending the conclusion of the investigation into her death.
It further asked the court to order the respondents to comply “with recognised forensic and investigative standards where appropriate.
(Ripples)