Mary Habila’s family petitions IGP over continued retention of body, seeks transfer of probe

The family of late Mary Habila has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, over the continued retention of her body by the Ebonyi State Police Command, demanding its release for burial and the transfer of the investigation into her death to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The petition, dated July 17, 2026, was submitted through the family’s legal representatives, K.A. Yusuf & Associates.

According to the petition, the family has made several applications and personal visits seeking the release of Habila’s remains but alleged that the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police has continued to withhold approval despite their compliance with all necessary requirements.

Mary Habila, a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences who was seconded to the Federal Ministry of Works, reportedly died on June 27, 2026.

Her body has since remained in a mortuary under police custody.

The family argued that the prolonged retention of the corpse has subjected them to emotional, psychological, financial and cultural hardship, preventing them from carrying out customary and religious burial rites.

“It is my client’s respectful position that the continued detention of his daughter’s corpse without lawful justification is arbitrary, oppressive, and inconsistent with the principles of justice, fairness and respect for human dignity,” the petition stated.

The lawyers further requested that the police provide the legal basis for retaining the body and disclose a timeline for concluding the investigation.

They also urged the IGP to transfer the case from the Ebonyi State Police Command to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, direct the immediate release of the body for burial, and investigate any officer found to have acted unlawfully.

The petition comes days after Habila’s father, Tanko Habila Wisdom, swore an affidavit before the High Court of Justice of Ebonyi State on July 13, declaring that the family did not suspect foul play in her death and would not consent to an autopsy.

Recall that in the affidavit, he appealed for the release of his daughter’s remains, stating that the family did not wish to pursue further police investigation and that the decision was made voluntarily.

However, the Ebonyi State Police Command has insisted that its investigation will continue.

In a statement issued on July 15, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, said the Commissioner of Police had transferred the matter to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, for a thorough investigation.

According to the police, Habila was brought dead to the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu, after she reportedly died in a room within the compound of the residence of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Uburu, Ebonyi State.

The command said detectives had visited the scene, obtained statements from relevant individuals and planned to engage a pathologist to conduct a post-mortem examination.

While acknowledging the family’s opposition to an autopsy, the police maintained that the procedure remained necessary given what it described as the sensitive nature of the case and the need to establish the exact cause of death.

Mary Habila’s family petitions IGP over continued retention of body, seeks transfer of probe