The Incorporated Trustees of the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union (SOKAPU) have filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Kaduna against the Minister of Works, David Umahi, over the death of Nurse Mary Habila, who reportedly died while serving as a member of the minister’s medical team.
Mary Habila was said to have died on June 27, 2026, at the minister’s residence, an incident that has continued to generate nationwide concern and renewed calls for a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
In the suit, SOKAPU named Umahi as the principal respondent alongside Habila Tanko Wisdom, the deceased’s father, the Attorney-General of Ebonyi State, and the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State.
The association is asking the Federal High Court to order an independent autopsy on the late nurse to establish the exact cause of her death. It is also seeking ₦20 billion in damages from the Minister of Works, alleging negligence and breach of duty of care while Mary Habila was under his supervision.
According to the plaintiffs, the court’s intervention has become necessary to ensure accountability and to provide clarity over the circumstances that led to the nurse’s death.
The legal action follows earlier statements by the Ebonyi State Police Command, which insisted that an autopsy would be conducted despite reports that some members of the deceased’s family were opposed to the procedure.
Umahi had previously written to the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State requesting that an autopsy be carried out as part of efforts to determine the actual cause of death and dispel the controversies surrounding the incident.
The case is expected to address critical legal issues relating to duty of care, accountability, and the necessity of a forensic investigation in deaths that occur under sensitive circumstances.
At the time of filing the suit, the Federal High Court had yet to fix a date for hearing.
The death of Mary Habila has remained a subject of public interest, with civil society organization’s, community groups, and concerned Nigerians calling for a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
The outcome of the case is expected to shape public discourse on accountability for public officials and reinforce the importance of independent investigations in cases involving unexplained deaths.
