A latest report has it that the Police authorities in Abuja have taken over the investigation into the controversial death of Mary Habila, the young woman who died at the residence of Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, amid growing public scrutiny over the case.
CANDID REPORTERS gathered that a police signal had been sent to the Ebonyi State Police Command directing officers in Abakaliki to hand over the investigation to authorities in Abuja.
The sources further disclosed that Habila’s body is expected to be moved to the Federal Capital Territory as part of the takeover, where a forensic autopsy is likely to be conducted.
The latest development comes days after SaharaReporters exclusively reported that Umahi had allegedly sought to have both the police investigation and the planned autopsy transferred from Ebonyi State to Abuja following mounting public outrage over Habila’s death.
According to multiple sources, the minister became dissatisfied with the handling of the investigation by the Ebonyi State Police Command, particularly after details of the case began emerging in the public domain.
Sources had alleged that Umahi expected a more favourable handling of the matter locally but that Governor Francis Nwifuru insisted that the police carry out a thorough investigation to determine whether any foul play was involved.
“The governor insisted that the police should do a proper investigation into the matter instead of trying to sweep it under the carpet,” one source had told SaharaReporters.
Sources further disclosed that the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State CP Hope Urunwa Okafor was summoned to the Force Headquarters in Abuja earlier this week over the handling of the investigation.
According to the sources, she was allegedly pressured regarding the probe but declined to compromise the integrity of the investigation.
The controversy surrounding Habila’s death has also exposed alleged political tensions between Umahi and his successor, Governor Nwifuru, over the handling of the high-profile case.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that following growing public scrutiny and the suspension of Habila’s planned burial, Umahi allegedly approached senior police authorities in Abuja requesting that the investigation be taken over from the Ebonyi State Police Command and that Habila’s body be moved to Abuja for a forensic autopsy.
Sources alleged that attempts to quietly manage the incident were frustrated after police officers and hospital officials reportedly declined to suppress information relating to the case.
The matter attracted wider public attention after photographs allegedly showing Habila with blood around her mouth and nose surfaced online, prompting calls for an independent investigation.
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