Umahi denies cover-up in nurse’s death, orders autopsy

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed allegations surrounding the death of Mary Habila, a nurse at the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH), describing claims of secrecy as false and announcing plans for legal action against those spreading what he called misinformation.

Umahi spoke on Sunday while inspecting ongoing work on the Ebonyi section of the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Superhighway.

Reacting to reports linking the nurse’s death to his residence in Ebonyi State, the minister said the incident was immediately reported to the police and that the deceased’s family, not his household, forced open her room after becoming concerned about her welfare.

According to him, doctors from DUFUTH were called in and rushed Habila to the hospital, where efforts to revive her proved unsuccessful.

“The family broke the girl’s door, called doctors from DUFUTH, who took her to the hospital and did everything to revive her, but failed,” Umahi said.

“The family reported the matter to the police, so where is the secrecy?”

The minister said he had directed that an autopsy be carried out to determine the cause of death, adding that the procedure would be conducted with the consent of the deceased’s parents.

Umahi also said he had instructed his lawyers to begin legal proceedings against individuals circulating what he described as false narratives about the incident.