Umahi talks about Tinubu's response after Habila's death

Minister of Works, David Umahi, said President Bola Tinubu turned down calls for his dismissal over the death of a female nurse, Mary Habila, at his Uburu home in Ebonyi State.

Mary Habila, who worked with Mr Umahi, was brought dead to the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital in Uburu, Ebonyi State, on 27 June.

At an event, Mr Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi, said many people tried to make politics out of Ms Habila’s death by asking for him to be sacked as minister.

A video of the event has been shared widely on social media since Monday.

“When people took the death of one of my staff and started playing politics with it, they said the president should sack me, but the president surprised all of them and said, ‘Dave, go and build more roads’,” he stated.

Mr Umahi, who turned 63 in July, mentioned that he did not celebrate his birthday as a sign of respect for the nurse and for one of his uncles who collapsed during a World Cup match.

He expressed sadness that, even while mourning, some Nigerians continued to accuse him of killing the female nurse.

“My prayer is that if any member of my family or I had any hand in it, let our own fate be worse,” he said.

“But for those who want to profit from it and play politics with it, if what they are saying is true, let it be well with them. Otherwise, the fate that befell the young lady will be worse for them.”

On 27 June, Ms Habila reportedly died under controversial circumstances at Mr Umahi’s home.

She was part of the medical team that attended to the minister and had gone with him to his hometown in Uburu, where she sadly died in a room in his house.

In July, the works minister denied any cover-up regarding the nurse’s death and insisted that the police were investigating the incident.

He asked the police to conduct an autopsy on the body of the 26-year-old nurse to find out the real cause of death.

The family disagreed with the autopsy and planned to bury her on 17 July, but the police insisted on proceeding with the autopsy.

Police spokesperson in Ebonyi State, Joshua Ukandu, later said in a statement that the police were waiting for the family or their representative to be present before the autopsy could be done.

Mr Ukandu, a superintendent of police, promised that the investigation would be thorough, transparent, and fair, and that updates would be provided as the case moves forward.

Mr Umahi has denied any involvement in the nurse's death, saying her boyfriend admitted she was unwell before coming to Ebonyi.

The minister asked Ms Habila’s family to rethink their decision against the autopsy, stressing that the examination would help clarify how she died amid rising claims of foul play.

However, the family wrote to the Inspector-General of Police, demanding the immediate release of Ms Habila’s body for burial.

Meanwhile, many Nigerians have called for Mr Umahi to resign or be removed from office over the nurse’s death.

Recently, a civil society group, the Kwechiri Unity Forum, filed a lawsuit against Mr Umahi and the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and others concerning Ms Habila’s death.