By Sunday Ameh
The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development has called for an independent investigation into the death of Mary Habila, a physiotherapist who reportedly died at the country residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, in Uburu, Ebonyi State.
The human rights organisation also urged President Bola Tinubu to suspend Umahi from office pending the outcome of the investigation, stressing that the move would safeguard the integrity of the investigative process and should not be interpreted as a declaration of guilt.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, FENRAD expressed concern over what it described as unanswered questions surrounding the circumstances of Habila’s death.
The organisation said issues relating to the deceased’s presence at the minister’s residence, the reported secondment of physiotherapists from the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences to the Federal Ministry of Works, and the exact nature of their assignments required thorough investigation.
FENRAD said only a transparent, independent and evidence-based investigation, including a forensic examination and an independent autopsy, could establish the facts and restore public confidence.
The group maintained that while every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty, no public official should be shielded from legitimate scrutiny where serious public concerns have been raised.
It therefore called on the Federal Government to constitute an independent investigative panel comprising representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigerian Bar Association, forensic experts, civil society organisations and other relevant professional bodies.
The organisation also demanded the preservation of all physical, documentary, electronic and forensic evidence connected to the incident, adequate protection for witnesses, and the public release of the investigation’s findings.
It further urged that anyone found culpable, regardless of position or political influence, should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
FENRAD also appealed to women’s rights groups, civil society organisations, youth groups, labour unions, faith-based organisations and other stakeholders to support calls for justice, insisting that the case deserved a transparent investigation.
The organisation extended its condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Mary Habila, pledging to monitor the investigation until its conclusion.
“The pursuit of justice in this matter is not about personalities or politics. It is about protecting the sanctity of human life, defending the rule of law and ensuring that no Nigerian is denied justice because of the status or influence of those connected to a case,” the statement added.
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