Police insist on autopsy after physiotherapist dies at Umahi’s residence as family objects
The Ebonyi State Police Command has insisted on conducting a post mortem examination on Miss Mary Habila, a physiotherapist who died at the residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, despite opposition from her family.
Police spokesperson, SP Joshua Ukandu, said preliminary investigations revealed that Habila and a colleague were members of the medical team attached to the minister and had accompanied him to his hometown in Uburu, where she was found dead in a room within the minister’s residence.
He added that the command had launched a full investigation into the incident, with detectives already visiting the scene and obtaining statements from relevant persons.
According to Ukandu, the police received a distress call on June 27, 2026, from the Divisional Police Officer in Ohaozara over a medical emergency involving Habila. On arriving at the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu, the DPO was informed that the physiotherapist had been brought in dead.
The Commissioner of Police subsequently directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a comprehensive investigation.
Ukandu said the command would engage a pathologist to carry out a post mortem examination to determine the cause of death and aid the ongoing investigation. Although the deceased’s family has rejected the autopsy, he stressed that the examination was necessary in view of the circumstances surrounding her death.
He added that the police were awaiting the presence of the family or their authorised representative before proceeding with the exercise.
The police spokesperson assured the public that the investigation would be conducted in a thorough, transparent and impartial manner, promising that the command would provide further updates as the investigation progresses.