‘We Don’t Want an Autopsy’ — Mary Habila’s Father Reveals Why Family Wants Nurse Buried Immediately

• The father of late nurse Mary Habila says the family’s decision to reject an autopsy is rooted in tradition, insisting they only want her body released for burial and are not accusing anyone of causing her death.

The father of late Mary Habila, the 26-year-old nurse who died at the Ebonyi residence of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has explained why the family is insisting on burying their daughter without an autopsy.

Speaking in an interview shared by Trust TV News on Friday, Habila Wisdom said the family could no longer bear the delay in laying Mary to rest, stressing that their cultural tradition does not permit the body of a young person to remain unburied for an extended period.

“We don’t keep the body of a young child for this long after death. That is why I am appealing once again that my daughter’s body should be released so we can give her a proper burial,” he said.

Wisdom clarified that the family’s rejection of an autopsy was not an attempt to frustrate the ongoing police investigation but simply a desire to bury their daughter without further delay.

“That is why I said I don’t want an autopsy. I only want my daughter’s body released so we can bury her,” he added.

Addressing speculation surrounding his daughter’s death, Habila said he was not accusing anyone or suspecting foul play, despite allegations circulating on social media.

According to him, Mary maintained a good relationship with her colleagues and the minister’s household, and he had no reason to believe anyone was responsible for her death.

“She had a very good relationship both at work and everywhere else. I am not suspecting anybody because death can happen at any time. Even as we are standing here, someone can suddenly collapse and die. It has happened, and it has happened,” he said.

Mary Habila reportedly died on June 27 in a room within Umahi’s residence in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, where she was part of the minister’s medical team on an official assignment.

The Ebonyi State Police Command said doctors at the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital confirmed she was brought in dead before the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

While the family has approached the court to stop an autopsy and secure the release of her remains, the police insist that a post-mortem examination is necessary to determine the exact cause of death.

Minister David Umahi, who recently broke his silence on the incident, denied any wrongdoing and described Mary as “like a daughter,” revealing that she had worked with him for about three years and that he had previously assisted with some of her medical expenses.

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