Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has called on Nigerians to remain calm and allow security agencies to conclude their investigation into the death of Mary Habila, a member of the medical support team attached to the Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi. The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation described demands for the minister’s resignation or suspension as premature, insisting that no individual should be judged before the facts are fully established.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, on behalf of the organisation’s President-General, Sen. Azuta Mbata, Ohanaeze expressed sympathy to Habila’s family and stressed that her death deserved a thorough, transparent and professional investigation. The group urged Nigerians to avoid speculation or comments that could prejudice the ongoing probe.
Ohanaeze also commended Umahi for publicly supporting an independent forensic autopsy and a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death. It maintained that the investigation should proceed without interference and that any conclusions should be based solely on credible evidence and due process.
Rejecting calls for the minister’s resignation, the organisation argued that the mere occurrence of a death within the premises of a public official does not automatically establish criminal responsibility. According to Ohanaeze, under Nigeria’s constitutional framework, every citizen is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and political sanctions should not precede the outcome of lawful investigations.
The group concluded by urging political actors, civil society organisations and the public to allow investigators to carry out their work without pressure or politicisation. It expressed confidence that the ongoing investigation would establish the true circumstances surrounding Habila’s death, provide answers to her family and ensure that justice is served in accordance with the rule of law
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