The family of late Mary Habila has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, over the alleged refusal of the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police to release her body for burial more than two weeks after her death.

In a petition dated July 17, 2026, and submitted through their solicitors, K.A. Yusuf & Associates, the family accused the Ebonyi State Police Command of unlawfully withholding Habila’s remains despite their compliance with all legal requirements for its release.

The petition, addressed to the IGP at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, stated that Mary Habila, a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, died on June 27, 2026, under circumstances that were reported to the police.

Since then, the body has remained in a designated mortuary under the authority of the Ebonyi State Police Command.

According to the family’s lawyers, repeated applications, personal visits and full compliance with every lawful requirement communicated by the police have failed to secure the release of the corpse for burial.

The petition described the continued detention of the body as arbitrary and oppressive, arguing that it has denied the family the opportunity to perform customary and religious burial rites while inflicting emotional, psychological, financial and cultural hardship.

“It is our client’s respectful position that the continued detention of his daughter’s corpse without lawful justification is arbitrary, oppressive, and inconsistent with the principles of justice, fairness and respect for human dignity,” the petition stated.

The family further expressed a loss of confidence in the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, urging the IGP to intervene.

Specifically, the petition requested the IGP to transfer the case from the Ebonyi State Police Command to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, direct the immediate release of Mary Habila’s body for burial, order disciplinary or administrative action against any officer found to have acted unlawfully, and issue any further directives necessary to ensure justice is served.

The lawyers also urged the police authorities to communicate the legal basis for withholding the body and provide a timeline for concluding investigations instead of keeping the remains indefinitely.

The petition followed  growing public attention surrounding Habila’s death, with her family insisting on the release of her remains.

The family had earlier said they suspect no foul play in her death and preferred an end to police investigations.

A bus full of schoolchildren returning from a trip veered off the road in Uganda, killing 20 children and one adult, police said Friday.

The east African country has a notorious road safety record, frequently recording bus or truck accidents along poorly maintained highways.

The bus from King David Junior School in the capital, Kampala, was returning from a school trip to Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa District when it veered off the road, according to preliminary investigations by the police.

“The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road, struck a large stone along the roadside, and overturned,” police said in a statement on X.

“The crash claimed the lives of one adult male and 20 pupils, while three adult males and several juveniles sustained injuries,” it added.

Police shared an image of a badly mangled and overturned bus, and said investigations were ongoing, with several children and adults receiving treatment in hospital.

Fatal bus accidents are relatively common in Uganda. In October, two buses collided on a major highway, killing at least 46 people.

A 2024 report said there were 4,434 fatal collisions and 5,144 deaths that year.

AFP

An Upper Area Court I sitting in Ganye Local Government Area, Adamawa state on Thursday, July 16, 2026, convicted and sentenced a man, Jediel Sylvester to 30 years imprisonment on Three (3) count offences including impregnating his daughter.

Sylvester was brought before the court on a criminal complaint alleging the offences of incest, criminal intimidation, and assault.

He pleaded guilty, blaming the act on lust and was remanded by the court.

The upper area court presided by Hon. Kabiru Musa, convicted and sentenced the defendant on the offence of incest to 15 years imprisonment with an option of N500,000, fine pursuant to section 377 of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa State, 2018.

On the offence of criminal intimidation, Hon. Kabiru, sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment with an option of a fine of N250,000 pursuant to section 383 of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa State, 2018.

While on the offence of assault, he is sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment without an option of fine pursuant to Section 242(b) of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa State, 2018.

According to the judge, the sentences shall run consecutively and further pronounced that the defendant has the constitutional right of appeal against the judgment to the High Court of Adamawa State within 30 days from the day of judgment.

While delivering his judgement, Hon. Kabiru stated that being mindful that a conviction based on a plea of guilty, particularly in a grave offence of this nature, must be approached with utmost caution.

The court, in compliance with the law, directed the Prosecuting Counsel, Abdulrahman Njidda Esq., to call evidence in corroboration of the plea of guilty, hence the calling of the victim.

The judge said that most disturbing was testimony of the victim that the defendant habitually beat, intimidated and forced her into sexual intercourse whenever he desired.

Hon. Kabiru held that the testimony of the victim remained clear, direct and consistent and fully corroborated the defendant’s voluntary plea of guilty.

“Having carefully considered the statement of complaint, the unequivocal plea of guilty entered by the defendant, the oral testimony of the victim in corroboration thereof, and the entire record before the court, I am satisfied that the prosecution has proved the offences charged beyond reasonable doubt as required by law,” the judge said.

“A plea of guilty, once voluntarily made and corroborated where necessary, constitutes the strongest evidence against an accused person. In the instant case, there exists not only the defendant’s confession in open court but also credible testimony from the victim herself, leaving no room for doubt as to the defendant’s criminal responsibility,” Kabiru stated.

He declared that the case represents one of the gravest forms of betrayal known to both law and humanity, saying parenthood is a sacred trust imposed by nature.

“Accordingly, I find the defendant, Jediel Sylvester, guilty and he is hereby convicted for the offences of Incest, Criminal Intimidation and Assault contrary to Sections 367, 382 and 242 of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa State, 2018,” the judge declared.