The circumstances surrounding the death of Mary Habila, a 26-year-old physiotherapist attached to the office of Minister of Works David Umahi, have taken on renewed significance this week as the Ebonyi State Police Command formally insisted that a post-mortem examination must be carried out to determine how she died.

Habila, popularly known as Mara, was found dead on June 27 at Umahi's residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State. According to the police account, a distress call was received by the Divisional Police Officer in Ohaozara regarding a medical emergency, and she was confirmed dead on arrival at the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital in Uburu. The case was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a more comprehensive inquiry.

Police spokesperson SP Joshua Ukandu explained that, given the sensitive nature of the case, the command regards a post-mortem as essential to establishing the true cause of death โ€” a position taken even though the deceased's family had initially expressed reluctance toward the procedure.

That reluctance appears to have shifted the case into legal territory. The Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice, through its Director of Public Prosecutions, has since advised investigators that only a post-mortem examination can resolve unanswered questions in the file, describing the death as sudden and unnatural. As a result, Habila's body has remained in official custody rather than being released to her family, even as they finalise plans for a funeral service scheduled for Friday, July 18, in Nok, Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State โ€” her hometown.

Minister Umahi, for his part, has publicly addressed the matter on more than one occasion, rejecting suggestions that the circumstances of Habila's death were being concealed. He has stated that her family alerted authorities themselves after growing concerned and forcing open her room, after which hospital staff attempted unsuccessfully to revive her. The minister described Habila as a longstanding member of his medical support staff and said he had personally directed that an autopsy be conducted, on the condition that her parents consent to the procedure. He has also indicated that legal action would be pursued against parties he accuses of circulating misleading accounts of the incident.

The case has nonetheless continued to generate significant public attention, driven in part by conflicting narratives about the sequence of events at the residence and questions over the timeline between when Habila was found and when emergency assistance was summoned. Investigators say they have visited the scene, gathered witness statements, and are continuing to build out a full account of what took place.

As the family prepares to lay Mary Habila to rest, the outcome of the post-mortem examination is expected to play a central role in determining whether the case moves toward closure or further scrutiny. For now, the Ebonyi Police Command maintains that no conclusion has been reached on either the cause of death or any question of liability, with the investigation officially still ongoing.