By Hadiza Mohammed, Northern Operation
The Incorporated Trustees of the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ United Associations (SOKAPU) has filed a suit against the Minister of Works, David Umahi, seeking N20 billion in damages over the death of nurse Mary Habila at his residence.
Habila, who was attached to the minister’s medical team, died on June 27 while on duty at Umahi’s residence. Her death has sparked widespread public concern, with growing calls for a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Ebonyi State Police Command had earlier announced plans to proceed with an autopsy despite reported opposition from some members of the deceased’s family. Umahi also wrote to the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police requesting that an autopsy be conducted.
In the suit filed before the Federal High Court in Kaduna, SOKAPU also joined Habila Tanko Wisdom, the deceased’s father, the Attorney-General of Ebonyi State and the state Commissioner of Police as respondents.
The association is asking the court to award N20 billion in damages against the minister, alleging a breach of duty of care that led to the loss of Habila’s life while she was under his custody.
SOKAPU is further seeking a declaration that the nurse’s death occurred under “unexplained, controversial and unnatural circumstances.”
According to the suit, the alleged hurried removal of Habila’s body to a mortuary without first making a formal report to the Nigeria Police Force violated her constitutional right to life as guaranteed under Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The association also argued that the alleged failure to carry out a prompt, independent and transparent autopsy, as well as a comprehensive police investigation, amounts to a continuing violation of the deceased’s fundamental right to life.
As part of its reliefs, SOKAPU urged the court to direct the Attorney-General of Ebonyi State and the Commissioner of Police to facilitate an independent and impartial autopsy by a team of pathologists and medical experts from Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, the University College Hospital, Ibadan, and the National Hospital, Abuja.
The group also asked the court to compel the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of Habila’s death before her body is released for burial.
