Human rights activist Agena R. Ande has called for a full criminal investigation, an independent autopsy and a coroner’s inquest into the death of Mary Habila, who was found dead in the house of Minister of Works, David Umahi, insisting that public explanations offered so far cannot replace a lawful investigation.
In a statement titled, “A Press Conference of Excuses Is an Insult to the Dead – Justice Must Not Be Buried With the Body,” made available to SaharaReporters on Saturday, Ande argued that the circumstances surrounding the Habila’s death require a transparent forensic investigation before any burial takes place.
According to him, the handling of the case has raised concerns about whether influential public officials are treated differently under the law.
“A woman is dead. Not in an accident. Not on a battlefield. She was found dead in another man’s house. And the only response we have received so far is a press conference. A performance. A carefully packaged set of excuses.
“That is not justice. That is mockery. And Nigerians must reject it,” the statement read.
The activist alleged that if the circumstances had involved an ordinary Nigerian rather than a politically exposed person, law enforcement agencies would have acted differently.
“If it were Umahi found dead and naked on a bathroom floor while Mary was in his home, the police wouldn’t give a damn about Mary’s excuses. She would be arrested instantly. The house would be cordoned off. An autopsy would be ordered within hours,” he claimed.
He argued that every suspicious death must be investigated irrespective of the social status of those involved.
“This is not law. This is power. This is the Nigerian disease where status buys silence and money buys delay,” he alleged.
Citing Sections 33 and 34 of the 1999 Constitution, Ande maintained that the Nigerian authorities have a constitutional duty to investigate suspicious deaths.
He also referenced international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and United Nations principles on the investigation of unlawful killings.
According to him, no burial should take place until investigators complete essential forensic procedures.
Among other demands, the activist called for a homicide investigation by the Nigeria Police Force under independent oversight by the National Human Rights Commission, an independent autopsy by government and private pathologists, forensic examination of the scene, preservation of DNA and toxicological evidence, retrieval of digital evidence including CCTV footage and phone records, formal questioning of everyone present in the house at the time of the incident, and a coroner’s inquest.
“Any attempt to rush a burial before these steps is obstruction of justice. It is evidence tampering. It is state-assisted cover-up,” he alleged.
Ande also called on international organisations, including the United Nations Human Rights Council, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the ECOWAS Court of Justice, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and UN Women, to monitor the handling of the case.
“We are asking the world to put Nigeria on notice. The life of one Nigerian woman matters. And the way we handle her death will tell the world what Nigeria is worth,” he said.
The activist urged the Nigeria Police Force, the judiciary and the Federal Government to ensure that due process is followed.
“Umahi’s bare press conference full of excuses is not enough. It will never be enough. Excuses do not answer forensic questions. Excuses do not bring back the dead. Excuses do not replace the law,” the statement added.
(SaharaReporters)
