Minister of Works David Umahi has publicly addressed the death of 26-year-old nurse Mary Habila, whose body was discovered in a guest house within his residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State.He said Habila had lived with his family for about three years and described her as being like a daughter rather than just a member of staff.

Umahi also dismissed reports that she served as his personal physiotherapist, explaining that she was a nurse attached to the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences.

According to him, Habila had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed medical condition, with his family paying for her medical care, including a reported ₦2.2 million hospital bill earlier in the year.He stated that she spoke with her boyfriend before her death, mentioned experiencing a nosebleed that later stopped, and planned to take a bath.

When she could not be reached the next morning, relatives and colleagues reportedly forced open her room and found her dead with the bathroom tap still running.

Umahi said he immediately requested an autopsy and insisted that her body should not be released for burial until the examination is completed, adding that he wanted the investigation handled in Abuja to promote transparency.

However, Mary Habila's father rejected claims that his daughter had any pre-existing illness and also disputed reports that the family opposed an autopsy.He called for a thorough and transparent investigation to establish the true circumstances surrounding her death.Several civil society and political groups have also demanded an independent investigation, while police inquiries are still ongoing.As at the time of the report, no autopsy result had been released and the official cause of death had not been established.