Police Seek Autopsy to Unravel Nurse’s Death at Umahi’s Country Home

The Ebonyi State Police Command has insisted on conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death of a 26-year-old nurse, Mary Habila, who was found dead at the country home of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.

The command said the post-mortem examination remains a crucial part of its investigation, adding that it is awaiting the presence of the deceased’s family or their authorised representative before proceeding with the exercise.

Police spokesperson, SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed this in a statement, explaining that the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) on the directive of the Commissioner of Police for a comprehensive investigation.

According to the statement, the Divisional Police Officer of Ohaozara Division received a distress report on June 27 regarding a medical emergency involving Habila and proceeded to 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 said.

Preliminary investigations, the police said, revealed that Habila and another nurse, Anita Baaki, were members of the medical team attached to the Minister of Works and had accompanied him to his hometown in Uburu, where the deceased reportedly died in a room within the compound of his residence.

Ukandu said detectives had visited the scene, obtained statements from relevant persons and commenced a full-scale investigation into the incident.

He noted that the command planned to engage a pathologist to conduct an autopsy to establish the actual cause of death and support the ongoing investigation.

However, the police disclosed that the deceased’s family had objected to the proposed post-mortem examination, insisting that it should not be carried out.

Despite the family’s position, the command maintained that an autopsy was necessary given the nature of the case and the need to establish the true circumstances surrounding the death.

“The Command is set to engage the services of a pathologist to conduct a post-mortem examination that will help determine the cause of death and support the ongoing inquiry,” Ukandu said.

He added that the command remained committed to a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation and would provide further updates as the probe progresses.