Anita Baaki, a physiotherapist and friend of the late nurse Mary Habila, has recounted the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death. Mary Habila was attached to the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences and was on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works.
Anita Baaki’s account of Mary Habila’s death was presented in a sworn affidavit to 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 shared that she and Mary Habila were housed in separate, connected rooms within a staff chalet at the minister’s country home in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area.
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.
She mentioned that Habila had visited her room to show her a new hairstyle, and they spent some time chatting and joking.
“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.
She explained that she grew frightened the next morning when Habila didn’t emerge from her room as usual. Baaki added that her repeated calls to Habila’s phone went unanswered, which led 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 stated that her testimony was given freely and without any pressure, to help investigators understand the events leading to Habila’s death.
CSONews24 reports that the police are continuing their investigation, and the legal team for the Minister of Works has requested a thorough forensic autopsy to establish the cause of death before Mary Habila’s body can be released for burial.
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