CITIZENS COMPASS— A medical student, Miss Mary Habila has reportedly died in the residence of the Minister of Works, David Umahi,in Uburu, Ebonyi State.
The Minister has since ordered an autopsy for the staff.
Francis Nwaze, Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works (Media), confirmed this in a statement.
Earlier, an online publication, Sahara Reporters, broke the news over the weekend.
Reacting, the statement said: The Media Office of the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Nweze Umahi, CON, has noted a publication by SaharaReporters regarding the unfortunate death of Miss Mary Habila in Uburu, Ebonyi State, which alleged that the circumstances surrounding her passing were concealed.
The Honourable Minister received the news of Miss Habila’s death with deep shock and sadness and extended his heartfelt condolences to her family.
Immediately after the incident, emergency procedures were activated. Medical personnel, including the Chief Medical Director of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, were contacted without delay, while the Nigeria Police was duly informed in line with established procedures.
After Miss Habila’s death was confirmed, the Honourable Minister met with her parents, expressed his sympathies, and advised that an autopsy be carried out to scientifically determine the cause of death. The family, however, declined the recommendation at the time.
For clarity, Miss Mary Habila and Miss Anita Baski are staff members of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, who had been on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works as physiotherapists for the past three years until Miss Habila’s passing.
In light of recent developments and in the interest of transparency, the Honourable Minister has renewed his call for an autopsy, maintaining that it remains the most credible and objective means of establishing the facts and addressing all concerns surrounding the incident.
The public is urged to remain calm, avoid speculation, and allow the relevant authorities to carry out their investigations without interference. The Honourable Minister once again extends his deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased and prays that God grants them the strength and comfort to bear this painful loss.
