SOKAPU Sues Umahi Over Nurse Habila's Death, Demands Autopsy, ₦20bn Damages

The Southern Kaduna Peoples' United Association (SOKAPU) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Kaduna against the Minister of Works, David Umahi, over the death of Mary Habila, a nurse who died while attached to the minister's medical team. The group is asking the court to order an independent autopsy to determine the exact cause of her death and is seeking ₦20 billion in damages for alleged breach of duty of care.

Mary Habila reportedly died on June 27, 2026, at the minister's residence in Ebonyi State, sparking public concern and calls for a transparent investigation. In the suit, SOKAPU also joined Habila Tanko Wisdom, the deceased's father, the Attorney-General of Ebonyi State, and the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police as respondents.

The association is asking the court to declare that Habila's death occurred under unexplained and controversial circumstances. It also wants the police to conduct a comprehensive investigation and an independent autopsy involving pathologists from Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, and the National Hospital, Abuja, before her body is released for burial.

The legal action follows earlier developments in which the Ebonyi State Police Command said an autopsy would be carried out despite reported objections from some family members. Minister Umahi has also publicly maintained that there was no attempt to conceal the circumstances of the nurse's death, stating that he requested an autopsy and has initiated legal action against individuals spreading what he described as false claims about the incident.