Why we don’t want autopsy – Mary Habila’s father

The father of Mary Habila, the 26-year-old nurse who died at the residence of Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Ebonyi State, has rejected calls for an autopsy, insisting that his only demand is for his daughter’s remains to be released for burial.

Habila Wisdom said the family’s decision was not based on any suspicion of foul play but on the pain of losing their daughter and the desire to give her a proper burial without further delay.

Speaking in an interview aired by Trust TV News, the grieving father said the prolonged wait over the circumstances surrounding her death had become too difficult for the family to bear.

“We don’t keep the death of a little child up to so long, just like this. That is why I am here to say once again and for all, I need the corpse of my daughter to take her for burial. That is what I am standing on,” he said.

The father maintained that the family had no accusation against anyone over the death of the young nurse, describing her relationship with her workplace and the minister’s household as cordial.

“I am not suspecting anybody because death can occur. Even as we are standing here, one can fall here now and die. So we are not suspecting anybody. It has happened, it has happened,” he said.

Mary Habila was reported to have died on June 27 inside a room at Umahi’s compound in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, where she had travelled alongside other members of the minister’s medical team for an official assignment.

The Ebonyi State Police Command said she was brought dead to the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu, after which the matter was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

However, the police have insisted that an autopsy is necessary to determine the actual cause of death, a position opposed by the family, which has approached the Ebonyi State High Court seeking to stop the investigation.

Umahi, who recently reacted to the controversy, maintained that there was no foul play involved, describing Habila as “like a daughter” and saying she had worked with him for about three years.

The minister also said he had supported her medical treatment in the past, insisting that the circumstances surrounding her death would be properly addressed.