Mary Habila Lived With Heart Condition Before Death — Family
The family of Mary Habila, the 25-year-old nurse who died at the residence of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has disclosed that she had a pre-existing heart condition and died following cardiac arrest. Habila was buried on Friday in her hometown of Nok, Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State. In a biography contained in her burial programme, the family said Habila had been diagnosed with a hole in her heart and had continued to live with the condition despite the health challenges. The family described her as a courageous and resilient young woman who remained hopeful while receiving medical treatment and support from her loved ones. It said her condition later became critical despite efforts to manage it, eventually leading to cardiac arrest and her death. Habila died on June 27 at Umahi’s residence in Umunaga, Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, where she was attached to the minister’s medical team. Her death generated public concern, with several calls for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Following her death, Umahi requested that the Ebonyi State Police Command conduct an autopsy on her remains. He also asked that her body be kept until the post-mortem examination was completed, saying the procedure was necessary to establish the cause and circumstances of her death.
The family rejected the request, saying it did not want an autopsy carried out on Habila’s remains. The Ebonyi State Police Command later said it would proceed with an autopsy to determine the cause of death despite the family’s objection. The controversy also resulted in legal action in July, when the Incorporated Trustees of the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ United Associations, SOKAPU, filed a N20 billion lawsuit against Umahi. SOKAPU alleged that the minister breached his duty of care while Habila was in his custody. The family’s account, contained in Habila’s burial programme, has now stated that she had been living with a heart condition and ultimately died after suffering cardiac arrest.
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