By Dr. Joel Ademisoye, United States
The Nigerian Federal Minister of Works,, David Umahi’s personal physiotherapist Mary Habila, a 26- year old, whose dead body was found in the minister’s house, is scheduled to be buried on Friday, July 17, 2026 (Source: “Nigerians Kick as Lady Who Died in Umahi’s House Set For Burial Amid Investigation,” Peoplesmind, 7/16/2026.). I found this quick burial process to be unusual, raised eye brows and a suspicious death case, involving a powerful political appointee and a cabinet member of the President Tinubu administration in Abuja? It is drawing quite an attention, generating widespread controversy and outrage among the Nigerian citizens about what happened to the Minister Umahi’s young physiotherapist in his home?
But, many Nigerians on social media are asking the germane question, why the rush to bury Mary Habila without an autopsy, full scale government investigation and forensic tests are conducted? The victim’s family, loved ones and Nigerians at large need to know what caused the Habila’s death? Or whether there is any foul play involved in her death, which could be determined by the Medical Examiner’s report. But, without a Medical Examiner’s report, full scale government investigation by the security agencies and the rush to bury Habila on Friday, it appears there is a butchered autopsy process, a Red Flag and many unanswered questions hanging over the head of the Federal Minister of Works, David Umahi, especially what does he knows, when did he know it, etc? The employer and host of Habila, Umahi remains a primary suspect in the death of his young employee and he isn’t out of the woods until the autopsy results indicate otherwise. Unequivocally, an autopsy should be done on Mary Habila to determine the cause of death, before he burial on Friday. Otherwise, if there is postmortem court case in the death of Mary Habila, there is the possibility of her body to be exhumed and an autopsy could be done.
Without mincing words, the family members of Mary Habila should allow for an autopsy report and also the President Tinubu administration must implement a full, thorough investigation into the suspicious death of Umahi’s personal physiotherapist in order to avoid the appearance and allegations of abuse of power, foul play and cover up in the Mary Habila’s death. Hence, the government investigation into the death of Mary Habila at the Minister Umahi’s residence, which requires the elements of transparency, accountability and credibility as well. It is in the best political interest of the President Tinubu administration, to conduct a public investigation into the young woman, Habila’s death in Umahi’s home to be investigated by an independent panel of inquest to be chaired by a federal court judge. The dagger that was used in the murder of Shakespeare’s play of MacBeth, should be revealed in the death case of Mary Habila. Therefore, Nigerians should vehemently call and demand for justice in the death of Mary Habila, the Minister Umahi’s personal physiotherapist. Be your fellow Nigerian citizens’ keeper, otherwise we are all doomed!
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