From Grief to Court: Southern Kaduna group seeks N20bn damages against Umahi over nurse who died at his residence

The Incorporated Trustees of the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ United Associations have filed a federal high court suit seeking N20 billion in damages against Works Minister David Umahi over the June 27 death of nurse Mary Habila at his residence, demanding an independent autopsy and a declaration that her death occurred under unexplained and unnatural circumstances.

The Mary Habila case has moved from public outrage to the courtroom — and the stakes just became N20 billion.

The Incorporated Trustees of the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ United Associations have filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Kaduna, seeking N20 billion in damages against Minister of Works David Umahi over the death of Mary Habila, the nurse who died on June 27 while attached to the minister’s medical team at his residence.

As reported by TheCable, the suit names Habila’s father, Tanko Wisdom, the Attorney-General of Ebonyi State and the Ebonyi Commissioner of Police as additional respondents.

SOKAPU is asking the court to declare that Habila’s death occurred under “unexplained, controversial and unnatural circumstances,” arguing that the alleged hurried removal of her corpse to a mortuary without a formal report to the Nigeria Police Force violated her constitutional right to life under Section 33 of the constitution and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The association further contended that the absence of a prompt, independent and transparent medical autopsy and police investigation amounts to a “continuing violation” of fundamental rights — a framing that escalates the legal and moral weight of the case significantly.

Beyond damages, SOKAPU is seeking a court order directing the Ebonyi Attorney-General and Commissioner of Police to facilitate an independent, impartial autopsy conducted by a team of pathologists drawn from three institutions — Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria, the University College Hospital in Ibadan and the National Hospital in Abuja.

The case adds fresh legal pressure to an already fraught situation. The Ebonyi Police Command had previously stated it would proceed with an autopsy despite opposition from members of the deceased’s family. Umahi himself had written to the Ebonyi Police Commissioner demanding an autopsy.

Habila’s death on June 27 has generated sustained public interest and repeated calls for a thorough, independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding it.