Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, to step aside over the death of 26-year-old Mary Habila inside the minister’s private residence, and that only an independent investigation can restore public confidence in the case.
Atiku, in a statement on Thursday, said the Federal Government’s handling of the incident had shifted public concern beyond the circumstances of Habila’s death to what he called “a failure of accountability at the highest levels of government.”
The former Vice-President demanded that Umahi temporarily relinquish his office pending the outcome of investigations. He insisted that such a move would represent “the minimum standard of public accountability in any serious democracy.”
Atiku said, “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.”
Mary Habila, a native of Nok in Southern Kaduna, reportedly died on June 27, 2026, within Umahi’s residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State. The circumstances surrounding her death have remained the subject of public scrutiny since the case became public following reports by Sahara Reporters.
Atiku argued that the absence of an autopsy nearly three weeks after the incident and the continued investigation by the Ebonyi State Police Command had raised legitimate questions about the credibility of the process.
He maintained that because the incident occurred in the home state of the minister who served two terms as governor before joining the Federal Executive Council, public confidence requires a more independent investigative framework.
“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.
“No investigation conducted in the shadow of the Minister’s home-state influence can command public confidence.”
The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) also criticised what he described as the Federal Government’s silence since the incident.
According to him, neither the Presidency, the Federal Executive Council, the Inspector-General of Police, nor the National Assembly had publicly addressed the matter despite the prominence of the official linked to the location where the death occurred.
Atiku further called for a “full, independent and internationally credible autopsy” with the findings released publicly, while urging authorities to guarantee protection for Habila’s family against intimidation or interference.
He said, “Let me be clear: I make no pronouncement on anyone’s guilt or innocence.
“Only a credible, independent and transparent investigation can establish the truth.”
The former Vice-President also expressed condolences to Habila’s family. He said her death is a tragedy that deserves a transparent response from public institutions.
The controversy has continued to generate public debate since news of the incident emerged, with calls from civil society organisations and other stakeholders for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death.
Neither the Presidency nor the Minister of Works responded to Atiku’s latest demands in the statement. Umahi has previously denied wrongdoing through his aides and legal representatives, while police investigations remain ongoing.
For More Details, Visit PrimeTimes News