Minister of Works Dave Umahi has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu rejected calls for his dismissal following the controversial death of a staff member at his Ebonyi residence, saying the President instead urged him to remain focused on delivering infrastructure projects.
Speaking at a recent public event, Umahi said the death of Mary Habila sparked political criticism, with some individuals allegedly demanding that President Tinubu remove him from office. According to the minister, the President dismissed those calls and encouraged him to continue his work.
“People said the President should sack me. Why should he sack me? For doing what? Because somebody working with me died, then I must be sacked?” Umahi said.
He added that Tinubu’s response surprised many of his critics.
“He told me, ‘Dave, go and build more roads,’” the minister stated.
Umahi also revealed that the tragedy, alongside the death of one of his uncles who reportedly collapsed after watching a football match, led him to cancel plans to celebrate his birthday as a mark of respect for the deceased.
The minister accused some individuals of exploiting the incident for political purposes. While insisting that neither he nor any member of his family had any involvement in Habila’s death, he offered what he described as a prayer over the controversy, saying anyone making false allegations for political gain would ultimately face the consequences.
Mary Habila died on June 27, 2026, at Umahi’s residence in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, triggering widespread public attention and calls for an independent investigation. Following the incident, Umahi confirmed that she died at his residence and initially identified her as a physiotherapist seconded from the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS) to the Federal Ministry of Works.
That claim later came under scrutiny after the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP) said Habila was not a registered physiotherapist. Subsequent reports identified her as a Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW), raising further questions about the circumstances surrounding the case.
The investigation also became contentious after Habila’s family initially opposed a forensic autopsy and demanded the release of her body for burial. The family later agreed to the examination on the condition that the case be transferred from the Ebonyi State Police Command to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The Nigeria Police Force subsequently took over the investigation, while Habila’s remains were moved to the National Hospital, Abuja, for a forensic autopsy. Authorities are yet to release the outcome of the investigation, as public calls for a transparent and independent probe continue.
