Family Petitions IGP, Demands Release of Late Nurse Mary Habila’s Body

The family of the late nurse, Miss Mary Habila, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), demanding the immediate release of her remains for burial nearly two weeks after her death.

Her father, Mr. Tanko Habila, submitted the petition at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Friday alongside his wife, other family members and their legal representatives.

Addressing journalists after filing the petition, the family’s lawyer said they were distressed that the Ebonyi State Police Command had continued to withhold Habila’s body since her death on June 27.

The family maintained that it was not seeking an autopsy and urged the police to release the remains without further delay.

“As we are standing here, somebody can fall and die. It has happened. All we want is her body to be buried,” the lawyer said on behalf of the family.

However, the Minister of Works has asked the Ebonyi State Police Command not to release the body until a post-mortem examination is conducted.

In a petition signed by his lawyer, Roy Nwaeze, the minister argued that an autopsy was necessary to determine the exact cause and circumstances surrounding Habila’s death before her remains could be released to the family.

Mary Habila, a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, reportedly died on June 27 while serving with the minister’s medical team at his residence in Ebonyi State.

Her death has continued to attract widespread public attention, with many Nigerians calling for a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.