The Ebonyi State Police Command has insisted on conducting a post-mortem examination into the mysterious death of Mary Habila, a 26-year-old physiotherapist found dead in the Ebonyi State home of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, despite her family’s objections and plans for an immediate burial.

The command said preliminary findings showed that the deceased and a colleague were members of the medical team attached to the minister and had accompanied him to his hometown in Uburu, where she died in a room within the compound of his residence.

Public Relations Officer of the police command, SP Joshua Ukandu, in a statement on Wednesday, said the police had commenced a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

He said detectives had visited the scene and obtained statements from relevant persons, adding that the command would engage the services of a pathologist to conduct a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death and support the ongoing investigation.

According to the statement, the police received a distress call on June 27, 2026, from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ohaozara Division, regarding a medical emergency involving Habila and requesting his presence at the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu.

“On arrival, the DPO was informed by hospital authorities that Miss Mary Habila had been brought in dead.

“He immediately briefed the Commissioner of Police, who directed that the matter be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for thorough investigation,” Ukandu stated.

He added that preliminary findings indicated that the deceased and a colleague were part of the medical team attached to the Minister of Works and had accompanied him to Uburu, where she died.

Ukandu said the family of the deceased had expressed opposition to an autopsy on their daughter, but the command considered the examination necessary due to the circumstances surrounding the case.

“The Command therefore awaits the attendance of the family or their duly appointed representative, as their presence is essential to the conduct of the post-mortem examination,” he said.

The police spokesman assured the public that the investigation would be conducted in a thorough, transparent and impartial manner.

Ukandu added that further updates would be provided as the inquiry progresses.

But while the police insisted on conducting thorough investigation into Habila’s sudden death, her family rejected the move saying it had no suspicion of any foul play in their daughter’s death.

The family has formally filed an affidavit before the High Court of Justice of Ebonyi State, rejecting an autopsy on her body and requesting the discontinuation of further police investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

According to the affidavit deposed to by her father, Tanko Habila Wisdom, Mary Habila died on June 27, 2026, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The document states that Habila was a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences and had been seconded to the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja, where she served for about three years.

It further states that she worked as a personal nurse to the Minister of Works and members of his immediate staff, residing at the minister’s official guest house in Abuja and staff quarters in Ebonyi State.

The affidavit also acknowledges that the Minister of Works requested an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

However, the family said it would not consent to the procedure, insisting that it wanted her body and organs left intact in accordance with its wishes.

The family further requested that the investigation be discontinued, that Habila’s body be released for burial, and stated that it would not honour any future invitations from the police or the courts regarding the matter, maintaining that it does not suspect any foul play.

While reiterating that the police release their daughters corpse for burial the father stated that. ” I was never induced, coerced or influenced in any way with anything or by anybody to make these depositions, “as everything deposed here reflect the sincere wishes of my family and I.”