Father of Late Physiotherapist Withdraws Case and Rejects Autopsy
The father of the late Mary Habila, a physiotherapist, has officially withdrawn the case regarding his daughter’s death, declined the proposed autopsy, and requested an end to the police investigation. This decision was outlined in an affidavit submitted to the Ebonyi State High Court.
Tanko Habila Wisdom, the deceased’s father, noted in the affidavit titled “Affidavit of Case Dropped” that the family is opposed to an autopsy on the 26-year-old’s remains, despite ongoing requests to establish the cause of her death. He expressed, through the affidavit, a clear stance against any postmortem examination.
Wisdom urged the authorities to cease all investigations related to the case and to release his daughter’s body to the family for burial. He firmly stated, “I do not want to pursue any further investigation and request that my daughter’s body be released to me for burial.”
He emphasized that neither he nor his family will participate in any continued investigations or court proceedings, asserting, “My family does not suspect any wrongdoing and will not be subsequently invited to the police or court regarding this matter.”
The affidavit identifies Wisdom as the father of Mary Habila, who tragically passed away on June 27, 2026, in Uburu, located in the Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The document further reveals that prior to her untimely death, Habila was employed at the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences and was stationed at the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja, where she served in the minister’s office for approximately three years.
According to the affidavit, she also functioned as a personal nurse to the minister, residing both at the minister’s guesthouse in Abuja and in state staff quarters in Ebonyi State. Despite the insistence from Labor Minister David Umahi for a comprehensive autopsy to ascertain the cause of Habila’s death, the family remains resolute in their opposition, advocating for the integrity of her body and organs prior to burial.
In the meantime, a legal advisory document dated July 15, 2026, issued by the Ebonyi State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), disclosed preliminary findings from a review of witness statements. This document indicated that Habila was found alone in her apartment when her lifeless body was discovered, with blood observed on her nose and mouth.
The DPP noted that at the time of returning to Uburu, Habila had seemed in good spirits, without any signs of illness or unstable health leading up to her death. Although the advisory provided insights based on available evidence, it did not include the DPP’s final recommendations concerning the ongoing investigation.
The circumstances surrounding Habila’s death and the family’s inability to retrieve her body from the mortuary have led to the postponement of her burial initially scheduled for Friday in Kaduna State. Reports suggest that the family, accompanied by legal counsel, sought to complete the necessary formalities for the release of her body but was unable to do so, leaving them without the remains needed for her funeral.
Authorities have not provided a detailed explanation for the delay in releasing the body, indicating that critical aspects of the investigation are still unresolved. This situation follows earlier directives from Labor Minister David Umahi for a comprehensive autopsy, as stakeholders, including civil society groups and women’s organizations, have called for a transparent investigation into the case.
Although Habila’s family has formally withdrawn their involvement and requested that her body be released for burial, the Ebonyi State Police Command has not yet disclosed a timeline for when the body will be returned or whether the investigation will reach a formal conclusion.
