Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), calls for the arrest, investigation and dismissal of Minister of Works Dave Umahi following the death of Mary Habila at his residence. Sowore makes the demand while speaking with journalists on Monday, arguing that the incident is part of a wider pattern of alleged wrongdoing linked to Umahi. He cites prior allegations including the disappearance of five engineers during Umahi’s tenure and claims that questions raised about earlier matters were met with unsatisfactory responses. Sowore also references other alleged issues, including a family said to be imprisoned in Ebonyi State on Umahi’s orders since 2025, and criticism of an expensive but underutilized airport in the state.
Habila is reported to have worked in connection with Umahi’s office and the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences. She is said to have been found dead at Umahi’s Uburu home on June 27, 2026. Umahi describes her as a daughter figure and states she had been receiving medical treatment, while he reportedly told police about the need for a forensic autopsy. Police emphasis on an autopsy reflects the circumstances described as an unnatural death, and public debate centers on calls for transparency and an independent probe.
