Anita Baaki, a physiotherapist friend and colleague of Mary Habila, the nurse attached to the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences and on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works, has narrated the events leading to Habila’s death.
Her narration was contained in a sworn affidavit filed
before the Ebonyi State High Court on Wednesday.
According to Baaki, a Benue citizen, she travelled with
Habila and other ministry officials from Abuja to Ebonyi State on June 24,
2026, for an official assignment under the Minister of Works, David Umahi.
Baaki disclosed that they were accommodated in separate but
adjoining rooms in a staff chalet within the minister’s country home in Uburu,
Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.
The deceased’s friend maintained that the chalet was
designated for ministry staff and associates and was not the minister’s
personal residence, stressing that she last saw Habila alive on the evening of
June 26 after she returned from having her hair done.
According to her, Habila stopped by her room to show off her
new hairstyle before they chatted and joked for a while.
“Habila told me she was tired and wanted to take a shower
before sleeping. That was the last time I saw her alive,” Baaki stated in the
affidavit.
The physiotherapist said she became terrified the following
morning when Habila did not come out of her room as expected, emphasising that
repeated calls to Habila’s phone went unanswered, prompting her to knock on the
door.
She revealed that when there was no response and the room
remained locked from the inside, she alerted a domestic staff member to search
the premises, noting that after Habila could not be found elsewhere, other
staff members were informed and the room was forced open.
The Benue-born physiotherapist reiterated that Habila was
found lying unconscious on the floor near the entrance of the room, adding that
she was immediately taken to the David Umahi Federal University Teaching
Hospital, where doctors confirmed that she was dead on arrival.
Baaki said her statement was made voluntarily and without
coercion to assist investigators in determining the circumstances surrounding
Habila’s death.
Police investigations are ongoing, while lawyers
representing the Minister of Works have requested a comprehensive forensic
autopsy to determine the exact cause of death before Habila’s remains are
released for burial.
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