By Oscar Okhifo
The father of late nurse, Mary Habila, has formally petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, urging the Nigeria Police Force not to conduct an autopsy on his daughter and to immediately release her body to the family for burial.
The petition marks a fresh twist in the high-profile case, which has attracted widespread public attention and intensified calls for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the nurse’s death.
In the petition, the bereaved father said the family’s only desire was to recover Mary’s remains and give her a dignified burial, stressing that they neither requested nor consented to a post-mortem examination.
“I do not want autopsy. I need the body of my daughter,” he stated in the petition.
His request is expected to present investigators with a difficult decision as they weigh the family’s wishes against the need to establish the cause of death in a case that has generated significant public interest.
Mary Habila’s death has remained under intense scrutiny since reports emerged that she was serving under the Minister of Works, David Umahi, after being posted from the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences.
Conflicting accounts surrounding the circumstances of her death have continued to fuel demands for a transparent and independent investigation.
Lawyers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders have argued that determining the actual cause of death is essential, not only to establish whether any criminal offence was committed but also to preserve public confidence in the integrity of the investigation.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force had not publicly responded to the petition, and it remained unclear whether the Inspector-General would approve the family’s request or direct investigators to complete forensic examinations before releasing the body.
The petition has also triggered mixed reactions on social media.
While many sympathised with the family’s desire to bury their daughter and begin the healing process, others argued that the matter had assumed wider public importance and required a thorough forensic investigation.
One Facebook user wrote:
“Has the issue not gone beyond her family now? I think it has. A death that has generated such attention needs to have a good, legal closure. Even the minister should insist on an autopsy, except he has some skeletons to hide.”
Although the allegation contained in the post remains unsubstantiated, it reflects concerns expressed by many Nigerians who believe that only an independent forensic examination can conclusively establish the cause of Mary’s death and address lingering public suspicion.
Minister of Works David Umahi has not responded to the specific social media comment. However, he had earlier denied any wrongdoing in connection with the matter and threatened legal action over allegations linking him to the nurse’s death.
Others, however, maintained that the family’s wishes should prevail, arguing that relatives should not be compelled to consent to an autopsy if they have chosen to bury their daughter and seek closure.
The petition has now placed the Nigeria Police Force at the centre of a delicate legal and investigative decision: whether to honour the family’s request for the immediate release of Mary’s body or proceed with forensic procedures considered necessary to determine the true cause of death and establish whether any criminal liability exists.
Whatever decision the police ultimately take is likely to have significant implications, not only for the Habila family but also for public confidence in the investigation. With national attention still focused on the case, the authorities face increasing pressure to ensure that the process is transparent, legally sound and capable of commanding public trust.