By Aghedo Oziengbe Charles, Abuja
ADC to fg: uncover truth behind habila’s death
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified calls for an independent investigation into the death of Mary Habila, a physiotherapist whose body was discovered at the Ebonyi State residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi.
The opposition party has also asked the minister to step aside from office temporarily, arguing that such a move would help guarantee a transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In a statement released on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the death of a citizen within the residence of a serving cabinet minister had raised serious questions that must be answered through a credible and independent process.
The party stressed that the matter had gone beyond political considerations, insisting that Nigerians deserved full disclosure of the facts surrounding Habila’s death, while her family deserved justice.
According to the ADC, several unanswered questions remain, including how the physiotherapist ended up at the minister’s residence and the events that occurred before her death.
The party argued that an investigation conducted by agencies under the control of the Executive could create doubts about its credibility, urging the government to allow an independent body to handle the matter.
“We therefore call for an independent investigation that is completely removed from the control or influence of the Executive,” the party said.
The ADC further demanded a comprehensive autopsy to determine the actual cause of death and urged authorities to make the outcome of the investigation public.
The party warned that failure to conduct a transparent inquiry could deepen public suspicion and further damage confidence in Nigeria’s justice and accountability systems.
Abdullahi accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of being more concerned with protecting the reputation of government officials than allowing independent scrutiny when controversies arise.
“The Tinubu administration appears more eager to defend reputations than to establish facts and submit to accountability,” he stated.
The ADC maintained that senior public officials must be held to the highest standards of accountability, especially when incidents involving loss of life occur within their private residences.
It called on President Tinubu to demonstrate commitment to justice by ensuring that the investigation is free from political interference.
The party also urged Senator Umahi to voluntarily step aside until the conclusion of the probe, saying such action would strengthen public confidence and demonstrate respect for due process.
“The least that should be expected is that the Minister, Senator David Umahi, should immediately step aside from office pending the conclusion of an independent investigation,” the ADC added.
Meanwhile, Senator Umahi has denied any involvement in the death of Habila, insisting that there was no attempt to hide the incident.
The minister explained that Habila was among medical personnel attached to the Federal Ministry of Works and that he had advised her family to approve an autopsy to establish the actual cause of her death.
The Ebonyi State Police Command has transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation as authorities continue efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The death of Mary Habila has continued to attract public attention, with opposition parties and civil society groups demanding a thorough, transparent and independent investigation to ensure that the truth is established and justice is served.
