Fresh details have emerged in the investigation into the death of Mary Habila, with a legal advice issued by the Ebonyi State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) revealing that the 26-year-old was allegedly found naked and lying lifeless on the floor with blood around her nose and mouth at the residence of Minister of Works David Umahi. The findings form part of an ongoing investigation, and no court has determined the circumstances surrounding her death.
According to the DPP’s legal advice, dated July 15, 2026, investigators found no evidence suggesting that Habila had been ill before her death. The document stated that she was alone in her apartment when she was discovered and concluded that the available evidence raised critical questions about the cause of her sudden death that could only be answered through a post-mortem examination.
The Ministry of Justice advised the police to proceed with an autopsy, noting that a forensic examination is necessary to determine the cause of death and guide the direction of the criminal investigation. The legal advice further stated that the police could either respect the wishes of Habila’s family or invoke their statutory powers to conduct the post-mortem examination in the interest of justice.
The development follows earlier reports that Habila died on June 27 at Umahi’s residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State. The minister has acknowledged that she died at his residence, describing her as a physiotherapist seconded from the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences to the Federal Ministry of Works. Umahi has denied any wrongdoing and publicly expressed support for an autopsy to establish the cause of death. Police investigators, however, have reportedly disputed aspects of the minister’s account, and investigations remain ongoing.
As of the time of reporting, Habila’s body had not been released to her family, while police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death. No official cause of death has been established, and no court has made findings regarding the allegations or the conflicting accounts presented by investigators and other parties.
