Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to step aside pending the outcome of investigations into the death of 26-year-old nurse Mary Habila.
Habila, who was attached to the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, reportedly died on June 27 in accommodation linked to the minister in Ebonyi State.
In a statement released on Thursday, Atiku expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and urged the Federal Government to ensure a transparent and credible investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
The former vice president stressed that his call was not a declaration of guilt against anyone but an appeal for accountability and public confidence in the investigative process.
According to him, the government has a responsibility to act openly whenever the death of a citizen involves a senior public official.
Atiku urged President Tinubu to ask Umahi to temporarily vacate office while investigations continue, describing the move as a standard measure of public accountability rather than a punishment.
He also called on the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the investigation from the Ebonyi State Police Command to the Force Headquarters and involve independent forensic experts to ensure impartiality.
The former Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate further demanded a comprehensive and independent autopsy, with the findings made public, while urging authorities to protect Habila’s family from intimidation or undue influence during the investigation.
He maintained that accountability should apply equally to all public officials, regardless of their position.
The case has continued to attract national attention, with several groups demanding an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death.
Umahi has publicly supported the conduct of a forensic autopsy, while his legal team has requested the Ebonyi State Police Command to ensure a thorough post-mortem examination before the body is released for burial.
The minister’s lawyers also clarified that Habila was staying in accommodation designated for staff members and associates, not in Umahi’s personal residence, insisting that a transparent investigation should determine the actual cause of death.
Meanwhile, the deceased’s family has approached an Ebonyi State High Court seeking to withdraw the police investigation into the incident and has declined to approve an autopsy, stating that they do not suspect foul play in her death.
Police investigations into the incident are ongoing, and authorities are yet to release official findings on the cause of death.
