Mary Habila Told Boyfriend About Nosebleed Before Death, Umahi Reveals

Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has disclosed fresh details surrounding the death of Miss Mary Habila, the nurse who was found dead in a guest house within his residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State, saying she complained of a nosebleed during a phone conversation with her boyfriend on the night before her death.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Umahi said the late nurse, whom he described as "like a daughter," had spoken with her boyfriend shortly before she was discovered dead on June 27, 2026.

The minister also renewed his call for a forensic autopsy, insisting that the examination is necessary to establish the precise cause of death before her body is released to her family for burial.

The circumstances surrounding Habila's death have attracted widespread public attention and prompted calls for a thorough investigation.

According to the minister, Habila informed her boyfriend during their conversation that she had started bleeding from her nose.

Umahi said the boyfriend advised her to report the development to her supervisor, after which she informed him that the bleeding had stopped.

“She told the boyfriend she was bleeding from the nose. The boyfriend advised her to report it to her boss. She later told him the bleeding had stopped.

“He then said he would end the call so she could rest. She pleaded with him not to end the conversation, but he did. About three minutes later, he called back and she was no longer answering her phone,” Umahi said.

The minister added that concerns arose the following morning when colleagues were unable to reach Habila despite repeated calls.

According to him, the door to her room had to be forced open after there was no response from inside.

“When they broke the door, they found her dead. The tap was still running. I think she wanted to have her bath,” he said.

Umahi said he had directed his legal team to formally request a forensic autopsy and urged Habila's family to permit the procedure before burial.

According to him, the family had indicated that an autopsy was contrary to their cultural beliefs.

“We told our lawyer that an autopsy should be done. We are appealing to the parents to allow it. They said it is against their culture,” he said.

The minister also disclosed that he had informed the Inspector-General of Police about the incident and requested that the investigation be transferred to Abuja to ensure a comprehensive and transparent probe.

Umahi also sought to correct reports describing Habila as a physiotherapist, stating that she was a qualified nurse employed by the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, Uburu.

He explained that she had lived within the premises for about three years and occupied the guest house alongside another female staff member, stressing that the accommodation was separate from his private residence.

“The lady in question was like a daughter to me. She had stayed with me for three years. She was a staff of the Federal Medical University. She was a nurse and not a physiotherapist,” he said.

The minister further disclosed that Habila had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed medical condition at the Turkish Hospital in Abuja, with the medical expenses reportedly paid by his family.

According to him, the most recent hospital bill of approximately ₦2.2 million was settled on April 5, 2026 and the relevant medical records remain available at the hospital.

Umahi also expressed concern over what he described as attempts to politicise the incident and announced plans to pursue legal action against individuals he accused of spreading false information online.

“We are going to test the law on cyberbullying over this matter,” he said.

He maintained that he had no reason to suspect foul play, noting that the room was locked from the inside and had to be forced open before Habila's body was discovered.

Authorities have yet to announce the outcome of investigations into the nurse's death.

The proposed forensic autopsy, if carried out with the family's consent, is expected to provide medical evidence that could help establish the cause and circumstances of her death.

At the time of filing this report, police investigations into the incident were ongoing.