For nearly three weeks, questions have swirled around how a young nurse died inside the private residence of one of Nigeria's most powerful cabinet members, and now, that minister has spoken publicly for the first time, offering his account of what happened and pushing back against what he calls a wave of malicious rumour.
Mary Habila, a nurse and physiotherapist at the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH), was found dead at Works Minister David Umahi's Ebonyi State home on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
Relatives forced open her room after growing worried about her welfare.
Speaking on Sunday while inspecting a highway project, Umahi dismissed the allegations circulating online as malicious and politically motivated, and said his legal team had been instructed to pursue those responsible for spreading them.
Giving his version of events, the minister said Habila's family grew concerned after being unable to reach her, broke open her door and immediately sought medical help.
Doctors from DUFUTH rushed her to the hospital and tried to revive her, but she could not be saved.
Umahi rejected suggestions that the case had been hushed up, saying the incident was promptly reported to the police and that an autopsy had been ordered to establish the cause of death.
He stressed that the post-mortem would only go ahead with the approval of Habila's parents, who are currently in Ebonyi State.
He spoke warmly of the woman he had worked alongside. "The deceased was a good nurse who checked my medical vital signs and worked with me for three years," he said.
The minister disclosed that Habila's parents would also address journalists directly and pursue their own legal action against those he accuses of spreading falsehoods about their daughter's death.
The case has since drawn attention beyond Ebonyi.
In an open letter dated July 13, the Nigerian Women International Alliance (NWIA) called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure an independent, transparent and credible investigation into Habila's death, saying the circumstances had generated significant public concern.
The group stressed it was not accusing anyone of wrongdoing, noting that every Nigerian is entitled to the presumption of innocence, but argued that higher public office carries a greater obligation to submit to scrutiny.
NWIA said its concerns were also shaped by other complaints and allegations that have, over time, been associated with the minister, though it acknowledged these had not been established as fact.
For now, the central facts remain the same as when the story first broke: a 27-year-old healthcare worker died suddenly inside a government minister's home, her family broke down her door to reach her, and an autopsy is expected to offer the clearest answer yet to what killed her.
This is a developing story. Reporting will be updated as autopsy results and further details become available.
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