Mary Habila was like daughter to me – Umahi

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The Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Thursday, described late Miss Mary Habila, a staff member who died at the minister’s residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State, as “like a daughter” to him.

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Read Also: Mary Habila told boyfriend she had nosebleed night before death — Umahi

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Habila, a nurse with the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, died on June 27, 2026, in a guest house located within the minister’s residence in Umunaga, Uburu.

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Umahi, who addressed journalists for the first time since the incident, called for an autopsy to determine the actual cause of her death.

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“The lady in question was like a daughter to me. She had stayed with me for three years. She was a staff of the Federal Medical University. She was a nurse and not a physiotherapist,” Umahi said.

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Also, Umahi said the Mary Habila had worked closely with him for years, and had a history of medical challenges for which he personally funded treatment.

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He stressed that he suspected no foul play, expressing disappointment over attempts to link him to the incident.

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“What baffles me is that everything becomes politics in this country. Must the minister be held responsible because somebody died in a guest house under the Ministry of Works? Is that how it works?” he asked.

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He also said he had instructed his lawyers to pursue legal action against individuals spreading what he described as false information about the incident online.

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“We are going to test the law on cyberbullying over this matter,” he said.

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