– Hails SaharaReporters for Exposing Crime Amid Tinubu Govt’s Silence


Atiku said nearly two weeks passed after the incident before the matter became public, while three weeks after her death, no autopsy had been conducted and no cause of death had been officially established.

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the comprehensive and disgraceful silence of President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the death of 26-year-old Mary Habila, who died inside the private residence of Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, in Uburu, Ebonyi State.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Atiku accused the Presidency, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the National Assembly of refusing to speak out over the controversial death, while commending SaharaReporters for bringing the incident to public attention.

According to him, “It took the courage of Sahara Reporters to bring this death into public view.”

Mary Habila, a native of Nok in Southern Kaduna, reportedly died on June 27, 2026, at Umahi’s residence under circumstances that have continued to generate public outrage and calls for an independent investigation.

Atiku said nearly two weeks passed after the incident before the matter became public, while three weeks after her death, no autopsy had been conducted and no cause of death had been officially established.

“I have followed with deep sorrow and mounting concern the reports surrounding the death of Miss Mary Habila, a 26-year-old Nigerian from Nok, Southern Kaduna, who died on June 27, 2026, within the private residence of the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, in Uburu, Ebonyi State,” the former Vice President said.”First, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Habila family. No family should have to mourn a daughter taken in the prime of her life while also fighting simply to learn the truth of how she died.

“But condolences are not enough. Nigerians deserve answers, and it is on this score that the Tinubu administration has failed, comprehensively and disgracefully.”

Atiku said the undisputed facts surrounding the case raise troubling questions about transparency and accountability.

“Consider the facts that are not in dispute. A young woman died in the residence of a serving Federal Minister. For nearly two weeks, neither the Minister, nor the police, nor any arm of government said a word to the Nigerian people. It took the courage of Sahara Reporters to bring this death into public view.

“Three weeks after her death, no autopsy has been performed. No cause of death has been established. The investigation remains domiciled in the very state where the Minister served two terms as Governor and where his influence is beyond question.”

The ADC presidential candidate further criticised a coordinated silence by key institutions of government.

“And through all of this, silence from the Presidency. Silence from the Federal Executive Council. Silence from the Inspector-General of Police. Silence from the National Assembly. Not one word. Not one directive. Not one gesture to assure Nigerians that the life of Mary Habila matters to this government.”

He also faulted the decision to allow Umahi to continue managing public communication surrounding the case.

“Instead, the Minister has been permitted to manage the narrative of a death that occurred under his own roof: issuing statements through his personal aides, deploying his private lawyers to correspond with the police, and continuing his official duties as though nothing has happened, while civil society groups, youth organisations, and the family’s own community cry out for an independent inquiry.”

Atiku stressed that he was not declaring anyone guilty but insisted that only a credible and transparent investigation could determine what truly happened.

“Let me be clear: I make no pronouncement on anyone’s guilt or innocence. That is precisely the point. Only a credible, independent, and transparent investigation can establish the truth, and it is the refusal of the Federal Government to guarantee such an investigation that constitutes the scandal before us.”

According to him, the government’s handling of the matter represents a failure of its constitutional responsibility to protect citizens.

“A government’s first duty is the protection of life. Where a life is lost in circumstances touching a high official of state, the burden on government to act transparently is at its heaviest.

“President Tinubu’s administration has instead treated this tragedy as an inconvenience to be waited out. If the death of a young Nigerian woman in a Minister’s residence cannot stir this government to act, then Nigerians must ask: whose life, exactly, does this government value?”

Atiku demanded that President Tinubu immediately direct Works Minister David Umahi to step aside pending the outcome of investigations.

“I therefore demand the following: One, President Bola Tinubu must direct the Honourable Minister of Works to step aside immediately, pending the conclusion of investigations. This is not a punishment; it is the minimum standard of public accountability in any serious democracy. No official under this cloud should preside over a federal ministry as though it were business as usual.”

He also called on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately transfer the investigation from the Ebonyi State Police Command to the Force Headquarters in Abuja with the participation of independent forensic experts.

“Two, the Inspector-General of Police must immediately transfer the investigation from the Ebonyi State Command to Force Headquarters, with the involvement of independent forensic experts. No investigation conducted in the shadow of the Minister’s home-state influence can command public confidence.”

The former Vice President further demanded an independent autopsy.

“Three, a full, independent, and internationally credible autopsy must be conducted without further delay, with the findings made public. The stalemate over the post-mortem, three weeks after this young woman’s death is an indictment of every institution involved.”

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