By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
The Ebonyi State Police Command has insisted on conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death of Miss Mary Habila, a physiotherapist who died at the residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The command said the post-mortem examination is necessary to establish the actual cause of death and aid ongoing investigations, despite objections from the deceased’s family.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) had launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
According to him, preliminary findings showed that Habila and another medical professional were members of the minister’s medical team and had accompanied him to his hometown in Uburu, where she was later found dead in a room within the minister’s residential compound.
Ukandu said detectives had visited the scene, documented relevant evidence and obtained statements from persons connected to the case.
He added that the command had concluded arrangements to engage a qualified pathologist to conduct the autopsy, describing it as crucial to determining the circumstances surrounding the death.
The police spokesperson explained that the command became involved after receiving a distress report on June 27, 2026, from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ohaozara Division, who informed the command of a medical emergency involving Habila and requested his presence at the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu.
He said that on arrival at the hospital, the DPO was informed by medical personnel that Habila had been brought in dead, prompting the Commissioner of Police to direct that the matter be transferred to the SCID for a detailed investigation.
While noting that the deceased’s family had expressed reservations about the autopsy, Ukandu said the police considered the procedure indispensable given the circumstances of the death.
“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.
He assured that the investigation would be handled professionally, transparently and without bias, adding that the command remained committed to uncovering the true cause of Habila’s death and would continue to update the public as investigations progress.