Umahi Finally Addresses Circumstances Surrounding Physiotherapist’s Death

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has publicly reacted to the death of physiotherapist Mary Habila, who was found dead at a staff chalet within the premises of his residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State, saying there was no attempt to cover up the incident and that an autopsy had been ordered to determine the cause of her death.

Speaking in a video that has gone viral on social media, Umahi said Habila was a physiotherapist with the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital who had been posted to the Federal Ministry of Works for official duties.

He explained that another physiotherapist from the same institution was also attached to the ministry, stressing that both women were government workers and not visitors to his residence.

The minister faulted claims circulating on social media about the circumstances surrounding the incident, accusing those behind the reports of exploiting the woman’s death to spread falsehood.

He maintained that legal action had been initiated against individuals he alleged deliberately distorted the facts.

Umahi said the deceased was discovered after the door to her room was forced open when she failed to respond. According to him, medical personnel were immediately invited to the scene and made efforts to resuscitate her before she was taken to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead.

He also said the matter was reported without delay to both the police and the hospital by the deceased’s family, insisting there was never any attempt to conceal the incident.

He added that he directed that an autopsy be conducted to establish the exact cause of death.

He said, “They also live in the same compound with other workers at the guesthouse in Asokoro, where I stay. And there’s somebody whose hell is reserved for, is given, you know, as if run girls were transported to, you know, a residence. And that’s the impression, you know. The lawyers have been briefed, and they will take on the people that are evil and say they’re fighting for the freedom of the country.

“Because if you intentionally did it, the death of the young lady would be far, far better than yours. Because, you know, everybody is called at the time of God. So that lady was a worker at the Federal University Teaching Hospital.

“That lady was seconded to the ministry. The second lady is also a physiotherapist from Benue State, seconded also to the ministry, a worker at the Federal University Teaching Hospital. And so it’s unfortunate that she passed on.

“When you use the death of people to curate content and deceive people, it means your time is up. So I ordered that there must be an autopsy. The family reported it to the hospital when they noticed this. The family also reported it to the police. So where is the secrecy that everybody was reporting? Where is the secrecy?

“You know, the same moment it was discovered, her door was broken to see that she had passed on. And so they invited the doctors, and the doctors came and did everything to revive her, but it wasn’t possible. And then they took her to the clinic and invited the police. So where’s the secrecy in it? If not that people are evil, and so shall evil follow them.”

Umahi’s reaction comes shortly after details of Habila’s final hours emerged in an affidavit filed before the Ebonyi State High Court by her colleague, Anita Baaki.

Baaki, a physiotherapist from Benue State, said she travelled with Habila and other officials of the Federal Ministry of Works from Abuja to Ebonyi State on June 24, 2026, for an official assignment involving the minister.

She stated that the team was accommodated in adjoining rooms at a staff chalet located within Umahi’s country home in Uburu, adding that the facility serves as accommodation for ministry personnel and associates rather than the minister’s private living quarters.

According to Baaki, she last saw Habila on the evening of June 26 after the deceased returned from making her hair. She said the two colleagues spent some time together before Habila returned to her room to rest.

Baaki said alarm was raised the following morning after Habila failed to come out of her room and repeated telephone calls went unanswered. When knocks on the door also produced no response and the room remained locked from the inside, staff members searched the premises before eventually forcing the door open.

She said Habila was found lying unconscious near the entrance of the room and was immediately rushed to the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, where doctors confirmed she was dead on arrival.

Baaki stated that she made the affidavit voluntarily to assist investigators handling the case.

Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Police Command has transferred the matter to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a full investigation.

Police Public Relations Officer SP Joshua Ukandu said the Divisional Police Officer informed the Commissioner of Police after visiting the hospital, prompting the commencement of a comprehensive investigation.

The police said preliminary findings showed that Habila and another physiotherapist were members of the medical team attached to the Minister of Works and had accompanied him to Uburu, where she later died in a room within the compound of his residence.