Mary Habila: SOKAPU Alleges David Umahi Threatened Its President Over Demand for Independent Autopsy

Abuja, Nigeria — The controversy surrounding the death of 26-year-old physiotherapist Mary Habila has taken a new turn, with the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) alleging that the Minister of Works, David Umahi, threatened its national president after the group demanded an independent forensic autopsy before Habila’s burial.
According to SOKAPU, the group filed a suit seeking an independent forensic autopsy by a panel of pathologists drawn from the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, and the National Hospital, Abuja. The suit also seeks a comprehensive police investigation before Habila’s remains are released for burial.
At an emergency press conference, SOKAPU alleged that shortly after learning of the lawsuit, Minister Umahi contacted its National President, Tabara Samuel Kato, via WhatsApp and made threatening remarks over the legal action. The group described the alleged communication as an attempt to intimidate its leadership from pursuing justice through the courts.
SOKAPU maintained that its decision to seek judicial intervention is aimed solely at ensuring a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death, insisting that no burial should take place until an independent autopsy establishes the actual cause of death. The group also called on President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, the National Assembly, and other relevant authorities to take note of the alleged threats against its leadership.
The latest allegations come amid continuing public interest in Habila’s death, which occurred at a staff accommodation within the minister’s country home in Uburu, Ebonyi State. Earlier, Umahi had publicly requested that the Nigeria Police conduct a forensic autopsy and asked that Habila’s body not be released until investigations were concluded.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no publicly reported response from the Minister addressing SOKAPU’s allegation that he threatened the group’s leadership over the lawsuit. The matter remains before the court.