Umahi Denies Secrecy Over Nurse’s Death, Orders Autopsy

Works Minister David Umahi has denied claims of secrecy around the death of Mary Habila, a nurse who died after being found unresponsive in his hometown compound in Ebonyi State.

Umahi said the matter was reported to the police and that an autopsy had been ordered to establish the cause of death. He also said his lawyers had been instructed to take legal action against people spreading what he described as false claims about the incident.

According to reports on the minister’s comments, Habila was a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital and had worked closely with him for three years.

Umahi said the nurse’s family became worried after they could not reach her and forced open the door to her room before seeking medical help.

“The family broke the girl’s door, called doctors from DUFUTH, who took her to hospital and did everything to revive her, but failed,” he said, according to Daily Trust.

He questioned allegations that the incident was hidden from the authorities, saying the family reported the matter to the police.

“The family reported the matter to the police, so where is the secrecy?” he said.

Umahi said Habila’s parents were in Ebonyi and would speak publicly on the matter. He added that the planned autopsy would only be conducted with the consent of the deceased’s parents.

The minister also pushed back against separate reports linking him to an alleged kidnap suspect said to have been recruited into Ebubeagu, the Ebonyi security outfit.

Umahi said he could not have personally known every person recruited into the outfit during his time as governor and challenged those making the claim to provide evidence of a personal link.

Sources: Daily Trust, TheCable, Guardian