“She Was Like a Daughter”: Minister Dave Umahi Breaks Silence on Nurse Mary Habila’s Tragic Death

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has officially broken his silence regarding the highly publicized and tragic passing of his personal nurse, 26-year-old Miss Mary Habila.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, July 16, 2026, Umahi vigorously defended himself against online and political speculation, describing attempts to link him to her death as “politics taken too far.”

Umahi painted a picture of a deeply affectionate, professional relationship, describing Mary not just as an employee, but as “a daughter” who had been an integral part of his household and official medical team for over three years.



“She Called Her Boyfriend Bleeding”: Umahi Details Mary’s Final Moments

In an effort to dispel rumors surrounding the location and nature of her death, the Minister shared a detailed, step-by-step account of Mary’s final hours, referencing her phone log history and conversations with her boyfriend:

• Prior Health Struggles: Umahi clarified that Mary, who was a registered nurse employed by the Federal University of Health Sciences in Ebonyi State (and not a physiotherapist, as previously reported), had a history of severe health challenges. He revealed he had personally funded her treatments, including a recent N2.2 million bill at a Turkish Hospital in April 2026.
• Recurrent Nosebleeds: According to the Minister, Mary had a medical history of sudden nosebleeds, including a previous episode while they were on an official assignment in Lagos.
• The Final Phone Call: Shortly before her death in the guest house in Uburu, Mary was reportedly on the phone with her boyfriend. During the call, she complained that she was bleeding from her nose. Her boyfriend urged her to report it, but she insisted she was fine and wanted to take a bath, telling him, “Don’t cut the call.”
• The Discovery: After the boyfriend hung up to prevent her from getting worked up, he tried calling back three minutes later to no avail. When staff eventually realized she was unresponsive, they broke down her locked door. They found her lifeless body; the bathroom tap was still running.

“What baffles me in this country is that everything becomes an opportunity. There is a guest house where she and other medical personnel stayed, and that is very far from where I stay. Does it mean that because somebody dies in the Ministry of Works, the minister must be accountable for that?” — Senator David Umahi, Minister of Works

The Autopsy Standoff: Family vs. Minister

The Minister’s press conference highlights a growing legal and cultural standoff over Mary’s remains. While her father recently filed a High Court affidavit in Ebonyi State explicitly rejecting an autopsy and demanding the release of her body for burial, Umahi is firmly pushing in the opposite direction.


Umahi revealed that he has formally instructed his legal team to block the release of Mary’s body until a state-certified post-mortem examination is conducted. He argued that a scientific autopsy is the only way to clear his name and determine the absolute truth.

To ensure a highly transparent, pressure-free investigation, the Minister disclosed that he has officially petitioned the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the entire case file from Ebonyi State to the Force Headquarters in Abuja. He hopes police leadership can sit down with the family and gently persuade them to allow the medical procedure to go forward.