Late Habila’s Family Petitions IGP, Demands Body For Burial

….We Didn’t Suspect Any Foul Play—Father

The family of the late Mary Habila on Friday asked the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to immediately release her body for burial.

The bereaved family also insisted that it does not want an autopsy conducted on her remains.

THE WHISTLER recalls that Habila’s death had sparked
public controversy over the allegation that she died in the residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, in Ebonyi State.

Addressing journalists in Abuja after submitting a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, the family’s legal representative, Barrister Kaile Yusuf, said the family had complied with all police procedures required for the release of Habila’s body but was yet to receive it nearly three weeks after her death.

Yusuf alleged that the deceased’s body was being withheld without justification, claiming that the matter had been politicised.

He clarified that Mary Habila was a nurse, not a physiotherapist as widely reported.

According to him, she was employed by the David Umahi University of Health Sciences, Uburu, before being seconded to the office of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, where she served for approximately three years.

He added that the family has her employment letter and salary records to confirm her status as a civil servant.

Yusuf further disclosed that although the Minister of Works had repeatedly requested that an autopsy be conducted, the family unanimously rejected the request on personal, cultural and traditional grounds.

“The family has resolved and remains firm in its decision not to allow an autopsy for personal, cultural and traditional reasons,” he said.

He also maintained that Mary Habila had been working in Abuja before her death and dismissed allegations questioning her character.

Yusuf said the family had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over the continued withholding of the body by the Ebonyi State Police Command and appealed for urgent intervention to enable them to give her a befitting burial.

Also speaking, the deceased’s father, Tanko Habila, said the family’s only concern was to retrieve his daughter’s body for burial.

“We don’t keep the body of a young child for this long. All I want is the corpse of my daughter so that we can bury her,” he said.

Asked whether the family supported an autopsy or suspected foul play, the bereaved father said they were not accusing anyone.

“I don’t want an autopsy. I want the corpse of my daughter. I am not suspecting anybody. What has happened has happened. We only want to bury our daughter,” he said.