Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to step aside while investigations continue into the death of 26-year-old nurse, Mary Habila, insisting that only a transparent and independent inquiry can restore public confidence in the case.
In a statement shared on his X account on Thursday, Atiku said the Federal Government must demonstrate its commitment to accountability by ensuring that the investigation is free from any perception of interference, particularly because the matter involves a serving senior government official.
The former vice president expressed sympathy to Habila's family, describing the loss as heartbreaking and lamenting that they were not only grieving the death of their daughter but were also seeking clarity over the circumstances surrounding her passing.
"I have followed with deep sorrow and mounting concern the reports surrounding the death of Miss Mary Habila, a 26-year-old Nigerian from Nok, Southern Kaduna," Atiku said.
He added, "First, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Habila family. No family should have to mourn a daughter taken in the prime of her life while also fighting simply to learn the truth of how she died."
Atiku stressed that his intervention should not be interpreted as assigning blame to any individual, maintaining that only a credible, impartial and transparent investigation could establish the facts surrounding the incident.
"Let me be clear: I make no pronouncement on anyone's guilt or innocence. That is precisely the point. Only a credible, independent, and transparent investigation can establish the truth," he stated.
According to him, government carries an even greater responsibility to act openly whenever a death is linked, directly or indirectly, to a high-ranking public office holder.
"A government's first duty is the protection of life. Where a life is lost in circumstances touching a high official of state, the burden on government to act transparently is at its heaviest," he said.
The former Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate called on President Tinubu to direct Umahi to vacate office temporarily until the investigation is concluded, describing such a move as a basic requirement of accountability rather than a declaration of guilt.
"President Bola Tinubu must direct the Honourable Minister of Works to step aside immediately, pending the conclusion of investigations. This is not a punishment; it is the minimum standard of public accountability in any serious democracy," Atiku said.
He also appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the investigation from the Ebonyi State Police Command to the Force Headquarters and ensure that independent forensic experts participate in the process. He further demanded a full, internationally credible autopsy, with the outcome released to the public, while urging authorities to protect Habila's family from intimidation or undue influence.
"The Inspector-General of Police must immediately transfer the investigation from the Ebonyi State Command to Force Headquarters, with the involvement of independent forensic experts."
"A full, independent, and internationally credible autopsy must be conducted without further delay, with the findings made public."
"The family of Mary Habila must be protected from any pressure, inducement, or intimidation, and must be guaranteed unfettered access to the facts of their daughter's death," he added.
Concluding his statement, Atiku argued that the credibility of democratic institutions depends on equal accountability for all public officials.
"The measure of a nation is how it responds when the powerful are touched by tragedy and the powerless demand truth," he said.
Mary Habila, a nurse attached to the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, died on June 27 in accommodation linked to the Minister of Works in Ebonyi State. The incident has generated widespread public attention, with several groups demanding an independent investigation.
Umahi had earlier endorsed the conduct of a forensic autopsy, while his legal representatives requested the Ebonyi State Police Command to ensure that a comprehensive post-mortem examination is completed before the body is released for burial. They also maintained that Habila was staying in accommodation designated for staff members and associates, not in the minister's personal residence, and said they support a transparent investigation to establish the cause of death.
However, the deceased's family has approached the High Court of Justice in Ebonyi State, seeking the withdrawal of the police investigation and rejecting an autopsy. In an affidavit dated July 13, her father, Tanko Habila, stated that the family did not suspect foul play in her death.
Police investigations into the incident remain ongoing, and no official findings on the cause of Habila's death have been released.
ADEOLA KUNLE
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