Mary Habila, the 26-year-old physiotherapist attached to the office of the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has been laid to rest in Kaduna State, weeks after her death at the minister’s private residence in Ebonyi State sparked public concern.
Habila was buried in Nok, Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, her hometown, according to reports.
The young physiotherapist died on June 27, 2026, at Umahi’s private residence in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Her death generated widespread reactions, with Nigerians calling for transparency and answers over the circumstances surrounding what happened.
While some demanded that an autopsy be conducted to determine the cause of death, others called for the suspension of the minister pending an investigation.
Following the incident, the Uburu Traditional Rulers Council announced a community-wide spiritual cleansing exercise and imposed a dawn-to-dusk curfew in the community.
The Ebonyi State Police Command also said a post-mortem examination would be conducted as part of efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death.
The controversy surrounding the case also drew attention to Umahi, who has repeatedly denied any involvement in the death of his aide.
The minister expressed frustration over what he described as the politicisation of the tragedy, particularly calls for President Bola Tinubu to remove him from office.
Umahi said the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death should not be turned into a political weapon.
“Power and might does not belong to social media, it belongs to God. And God sees the heart of men”.
The minister added that he was particularly disturbed that the death of someone he described as one of his best workers had become a subject of political attacks.
“What surprised me is that when people took the death of one of my best workers and started to play politics, they said the President should sack me,” Umahi said.
With Habila now buried, attention is likely to remain on the investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death and whether the promised post-mortem examination will provide answers to the questions that have continued to surround the case.
