Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has criticised the manner in which the late Mary Habila and one of her colleagues have been portrayed in some public discussions following her death, insisting that both women were on official assignment and should not be subjected to what he described as unfair characterisation.
Speaking during an interview on Symfoni TV, the minister expressed sadness over Habila’s death, describing the loss as deeply personal. According to him, the deceased had worked closely with him, and her passing felt like losing a member of his own family.
Umahi said he had deliberately avoided making extensive public comments because he was still grieving, but noted that he felt compelled to respond to what he considered inaccurate narratives surrounding the circumstances of Habila’s presence at the ministry’s guest facility.
In his words, “I don’t want to dwell on it too much, because I’m mourning, it is like losing a daughter. And I laugh when they call her a physiotherapist. They presented these girls as if they were runs girls. These people were inside the plane with me and my immediate staff. We flew together. It is not as if they even came separately. We all flew together to Lagos. And this was not the first time,” he said.
The minister stressed that Habila and her colleague were travelling as part of an official engagement and accompanied him and other members of his team on the same flight. According to him, their presence was connected to official medical responsibilities and not for any personal or unofficial purpose.
Umahi also disclosed additional information regarding Habila’s final hours, saying the details were based on an account reportedly provided by her boyfriend during the ongoing investigation into her death.
According to the minister, Habila contacted her boyfriend while she was in Lagos for a conference and informed him that she was experiencing a nosebleed. He said the boyfriend advised her to immediately report the situation to her supervisor, believing that such a report would ensure she received prompt medical attention.
However, Umahi alleged that Habila was reluctant to notify her supervisor because she did not want to inconvenience anyone. Instead, he said, she reportedly decided to search for a nearby hospital on her own rather than seek assistance through official channels.
The minister further disclosed that he had instructed investigators to obtain Habila’s call records in order to verify the details of her final conversation with her boyfriend and assist in establishing a clear timeline of events leading up to her death.
According to Umahi, he has specifically requested that the Nigeria Police retrieve her call log as part of the investigation, expressing confidence that the records could provide important evidence and help clarify unresolved questions surrounding the incident…See_More
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