Father of Late Nurse Seeks Immediate Burial, Rejects Autopsy
The father of the late nurse, Mary Habila, who died under controversial circumstances at the Ebonyi State residence of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has appealed for the immediate release of his daughter’s body for burial, insisting that the family does not want an autopsy.
Speaking in an interview aired by Trust TV on Friday, Habila’s father, Mr. Habila Wisdom, said the family’s decision was guided by their cultural belief that the body of a deceased young person should not be kept in the mortuary for an extended period.
According to him, the family’s priority is to bury their daughter without further delay.
“We don’t keep the body of a young child for this long. That is why I have come to say once again that I need the corpse of my daughter so we can bury her. That is what I am standing on,” he said.
Responding to questions on why the family opposed an autopsy, Wisdom maintained that their position was based solely on the desire to proceed with burial, not because of any suspicion surrounding her death.
“That is why I said I don’t want the autopsy. I just want the corpse of my daughter released so we can bury her,” he added.
When asked whether the family suspected foul play following allegations that the deceased may have been assaulted before her death, the bereaved father dismissed such claims, saying he had no reason to accuse anyone.
He described his daughter’s relationship with her employers and members of the minister’s household as cordial, stressing that death can occur unexpectedly.
“I am not suspecting anybody because death can happen at any time. Even as we are standing here, someone can suddenly fall and die. It has happened, and that is all I can say,” he stated.
Mary Habila reportedly died on June 27 in a room within Minister David Umahi’s residence in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, where she had accompanied members of the minister’s medical team on official duty.
The Ebonyi State Police Command had earlier disclosed that doctors at the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital confirmed she was brought in dead before the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a thorough investigation.
Despite the family’s request to dispense with a post-mortem examination, the police have maintained that an autopsy remains necessary to determine the exact cause of death. Reports indicate that the family has approached the Ebonyi State High Court, seeking an order to halt the police investigation.
Minister David Umahi, who recently addressed the matter publicly, denied any wrongdoing, describing the deceased as “like a daughter.” He disclosed that Habila had worked with him for about three years and said he had personally supported her medical treatment on previous occasions.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the nurse’s death are ongoing.
