Mary Habila’s Family Rejects Autopsy, Seeks End to Police Investigation as Ebonyi Command Insists on Probe

The family of the late Mary Habila, a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences who was on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works, has formally requested that the Ebonyi State Police Command discontinue its investigation into her death and release her body for burial.

The request is contained in an affidavit titled “Affidavit of Withdrawal of Case” sworn before the High Court of Justice of Ebonyi State by her father, Tanko Habila Wisdom.

According to the affidavit, the family does not suspect any foul play in Habila’s death and has declined consent for an autopsy despite calls for a forensic examination.

The document stated that Habila died on June 27, 2026, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Before her death, she was a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences and had spent about three years on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja, where she served in the Office of the Minister of Works as his personal nurse and attended to members of his immediate staff.

The affidavit disclosed that the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, had requested an autopsy to determine the cause of her death. However, the family said it would not permit the procedure.

“While I welcome steps being taken to unravel the cause of my daughter’s death, my family and I will not accept any autopsy on my daughter’s body,” the affidavit stated.

The family appealed to investigators and medical authorities to release Habila’s remains intact for burial and requested that no further investigation be carried out.

The affidavit further stated that the family would not honour future invitations from the police or the courts regarding the matter, insisting that the decision was voluntary and made without coercion, inducement or external influence.

Despite the family’s position, the Ebonyi State Police Command has maintained that investigations will continue.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, said the command considered a post-mortem examination necessary because of the sensitive nature of the case and the need to establish the actual cause of death.

According to the police, preliminary findings indicate that Habila was part of the medical team attached to the Minister of Works and had accompanied him to his hometown in Uburu, where she died in a room within the compound of his residence.

The command said detectives had visited the scene, obtained statements from relevant persons and were making arrangements for a pathologist to conduct a post-mortem examination.

Police said they were awaiting the attendance of the deceased’s family or their authorised representative, describing their presence as necessary for the conduct of the examination.

The Ebonyi State Police Command reiterated its commitment to a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation and said further updates would be provided as the case progresses.