Fresh details have emerged in the investigation into the death of a physiotherapist, Mary Habila, at the residence of Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, with police sources familiar with the case disputing aspects of the minister’s public account.
SaharaReporters recalls that the minister Umahi had publicly stated that Habila was a physiotherapist attached to his residence.
However, police sources involved in the investigation told SaharaReporters that they did not believe the deceased woman and another woman were employees of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, as claimed by the minister.
According to the police sources, lawyers acting on behalf of the minister sought the release of Habila’s body for burial in Ebonyi State.
“Investigators however declined the request, maintaining that the death remains under active investigation and that releasing the body before the necessary forensic and investigative processes are concluded would be inappropriate given the public interest in the case,” a top source informed SaharaReporters on Monday.
Other sources said investigators had received information suggesting that members of Habila’s family were being pressured not to insist on an autopsy.
SaharaReporters had on Sunday reported that Habila was reportedly found dead at the residence of David Umahi.
According to the sources, two women, Habila and Baski, travelled from Kaduna State and arrived at the minister’s residence on June 26. Investigators allege they were brought there by Jonathan Bawado, a police officer serving as Senator David Umahi’s Personal Assistant, to attend to the minister. Habila was found dead at the residence the following morning under circumstances that remain under investigation. Sources also say Bawado alerted medical personnel after she was found unresponsive. Separately, questions have been raised publicly over why staff from the university hospital were reportedly seconded to the Minister of Works’ residence without an official justification
