By Sunday Ameh
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called for comprehensive investigations into controversial deaths across the country, insisting that every suspicious death must be thoroughly examined to ensure justice and accountability.
Falana said the constitutional right to life is sacrosanct and should be protected at all times, stressing that any unnatural or questionable death deserves rigorous scrutiny by relevant authorities.
Among the cases he highlighted is the death of Mary Habila, whose body was discovered on June 27, 2026, in a residence linked to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Uburu, Ebonyi State.
Although Umahi has denied any involvement, maintaining that Habila died from a medical condition and that the matter was reported to the Nigeria Police Force, Falana questioned aspects of the investigation.
He criticised the handling of the scene and the delay in conducting an autopsy, despite reports that police authorities declined the family’s request to release the body for burial.
The senior lawyer urged the Inspector-General of Police to personally supervise the investigation and called on the Nigerian Medical Association to ensure an autopsy is carried out without further delay to determine the exact cause of death.
Falana also raised concerns over the death of Babatunde Dolapo Tanimola, a principal suspect in an alleged fake agency scandal, who reportedly died in a hotel fire in Abuja in October 2025.
While authorities said the death was verified through hospital and mortuary records, as well as interviews with family members, Falana argued that several questions remain unanswered, particularly following reports that the hotel where the fire occurred was later demolished.
He further called for an independent investigation into the incident.
The rights advocate also referenced politically related killings linked to the forthcoming Osun State governorship election, noting that police had confirmed ongoing investigations and the arrest of several suspects.
He urged the Osun State Attorney-General to ensure the swift prosecution of anyone found culpable, stressing that justice must not be delayed.
Falana also pointed to existing Coroner Laws in Ebonyi State, Osun State and the Federal Capital Territory, which provide for inquests into sudden, violent or suspicious deaths, urging civil society organisations and the media to sustain pressure on authorities to ensure transparency and accountability.
“The sanctity of human life must be upheld at all times. These deaths must be properly investigated and not allowed to fade into obscurity,” he said.
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