The management of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS), Uburu, Ebonyi State, has directed members of staff not to release information relating to the death of Mary Habila to the public without authorisation, according to minutes of an internal management meeting obtained by SaharaReporters.
The meeting, held on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, with its highlights circulated to academic staff the following day, came after SaharaReporters published a series of reports on Habila’s death, which drew widespread public attention.
Minutes of the meeting sent to SaharaReporters show that the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jesse Uneke, repeatedly stressed the need for staff members to protect the institution’s image and refrain from making unauthorised disclosures concerning university affairs.
According to the meeting highlights, the Vice-Chancellor said “the integrity and reputation of DUFUHS remain priceless institutional assets which every staff member must consciously protect.”
The document further stated that he “cautioned against the unauthorized release of official information capable of misrepresenting the University or undermining its corporate image.”
It added that staff members “were advised to obtain official information only through the appropriate offices legally empowered to communicate on behalf of the University.”
It also noted that the Vice-Chancellor assured staff members that “his administration remains committed to transparency and would continue to make all information necessary for the effective discharge of official responsibilities and staff welfare readily available.”
Sources familiar with the meeting told SaharaReporters that the management convened the session partly to forestall the unauthorised release of information relating to Habila’s death to the media and ensure that all official communication on the matter remained under the control of the university’s leadership.
According to the sources, the university was concerned about the growing public scrutiny surrounding the case and sought to prevent staff members from making comments or releasing documents that could contradict its official position.
The internal directive followed SaharaReporters’ exclusive reports on Habila’s death.
SaharaReporters had exclusively reported that Habila died at the residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, on June 27.
Following SaharaReporters’ reports, Umahi confirmed that Habila died at his residence. He maintained that she was a physiotherapist seconded from the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences to the Federal Ministry of Works and said he had advised her family to consent to a forensic autopsy to establish the cause of death.
However, the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP) has debunked claims that Habila was a physiotherapist, stating that her name was not found in the database of registered physiotherapists.
The position contradicted assertions by the minister’s team that she was a physiotherapist on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works.
The professional body said it reached the conclusion after verifying Habila’s credentials through the appropriate regulatory channels, according to a statement issued by its Public Relations Team last Thursday.
Sources at the university also told SaharaReporters that Habila was a Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW) rather than a physiotherapist as previously reported.
Last Thursday, the family of 26-year-old Habila postponed her burial indefinitely as police continued to insist on conducting an autopsy before releasing her body.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by Elisha Haruna on behalf of the family, the relatives announced that the burial earlier scheduled for Friday, July 17, had been put on hold.
The postponement came hours after the Ebonyi State Police Command reiterated that a post-mortem examination remained necessary to determine the true cause of Habila’s death despite the family’s opposition.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Habila’s body had not been released to her family, effectively preventing the planned burial from going ahead.
The police said the command was awaiting the attendance of Habila’s family or their authorised representative before proceeding with the autopsy, which investigators consider essential to the ongoing probe.
According to the police, preliminary findings indicate that Habila, who was reportedly attached to the Minister of Works’ medical team, travelled with Umahi to his hometown in Uburu, Ebonyi State, where she died at his residence.
The command said detectives had visited the scene, obtained statements from relevant persons and were preparing for a forensic post-mortem examination.
The development followed legal advice from the Ebonyi State Director of Public Prosecutions, J.U. Chukwu, who said a post-mortem examination would provide crucial evidence to determine the cause of Habila’s sudden and unexplained death.
The DPP noted that available evidence showed Habila “laid lifeless on the floor of her apartment naked with blood stain on her nose and mouth” and concluded that only an autopsy could answer the question of what caused her sudden death, although he advised that the police retained the discretion to either proceed with the examination or honour the family’s wishes.
Last Friday, Mr. Wisdom Habila, father of the late young woman, appealed to authorities to release his daughter’s body for burial, stressing that the family neither sought an autopsy nor accused anyone of responsibility for her death.
Speaking publicly, the grieving father explained that his only concern was to recover his daughter’s remains so the family could accord her a proper burial, lamenting that the body had been withheld for too long.
“I don’t have much to talk about in this case. All that I want is the corpse of my daughter,” Wisdom said.
“We don’t keep the body of a little child for so long like this. That is why I’m here to say once again and for all, I need the corpse of my daughter to take her for burial.”
He stressed that the family’s position was firm and that they had rejected calls for an autopsy.
SaharaReporters had previously reported that Habila was found dead at Minister Umahi’s residence on June 27, sparking widespread public concern and calls for a thorough, transparent and independent investigation.
Umahi has denied any wrongdoing, saying he requested a comprehensive autopsy to establish the cause of death and urging the public to allow investigators to complete their work. Police investigations into the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death are ongoing.
(SaharaReporters)