Minister of Works David Umahi has dismissed allegations of secrecy surrounding the death of Mary Habila, a nurse, at his residence in Ebonyi State, insisting that the incident was immediately reported to the police and handled transparently.
Speaking on Sunday while inspecting ongoing work on the Ebonyi section of the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Superhighway, Umahi explained that the deceased’s family forced open her room after becoming concerned about her wellbeing before rushing her to the hospital.
According to the minister, doctors from the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH) made efforts to revive Habila but were unsuccessful.
“The family broke the girl’s door, called doctors from DUFUTH, who took her to hospital and did everything to revive her, but failed,” Umahi said.
“The family reported the matter to the police, so where is the secrecy?”
Umahi disclosed that he had directed that an autopsy be conducted with the consent of the deceased’s parents to establish the cause of death.
He also rejected reports suggesting that the circumstances surrounding the nurse’s death were concealed, describing such claims as false and misleading.
The minister said he had instructed his legal team to commence legal proceedings against individuals circulating what he described as false reports about the incident.
Umahi described the late Habila as a dedicated staff member of the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital.
He further revealed that the deceased’s parents, who are currently in Ebonyi State, would address journalists and also take legal action against those spreading what they consider false information about their daughter’s death.
