Mary Habila: What she told her boyfriend before she died – Umahi breaks silence

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has broken his silence on the death of Mary Habila, revealing details of her final conversation with her boyfriend before she was found dead at a government guest house in Ebonyi State.

Addressing journalists on Thursday, Umahi described the deceased as someone who was “like a daughter” to him, explaining that she had lived and worked with his family for more than three years. He dismissed allegations linking him to her death, insisting there was no evidence of foul play.

According to the minister, Habila called her boyfriend shortly before her death and complained of bleeding from her nose. He said the boyfriend advised her to seek immediate medical attention, but she reportedly replied that the bleeding had stopped.

Umahi disclosed that Habila later informed her boyfriend that she intended to take a bath. When he attempted to call her back about three minutes later, she did not answer. Concerned by the silence, colleagues later forced open her room and found her unresponsive, with the bathroom tap reportedly still running.

The minister clarified that Habila was a qualified nurse employed by the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences in Ebonyi State, contrary to reports identifying her as a physiotherapist. He added that she had battled health challenges for some time and that he personally covered the cost of her medical treatment, including hospital bills running into millions of naira.

Umahi appealed to the deceased’s family to allow a forensic autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, stressing that her body should not be released for burial until the examination is completed.

He also condemned what he described as misinformation and the circulation of disturbing images relating to Habila’s death, warning that legal action would be taken against anyone found to have spread false information about the incident.

The minister urged the public to allow investigators to complete their work, expressing confidence that the outcome of the forensic examination would provide clarity on the circumstances surrounding the tragic death.