Mary Habila Death: DPP Recommends Autopsy to Determine Cause

The Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice has recommended a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of the sudden and unnatural death of Mary Habila.
The recommendation was contained in a legal advice dated July 15, 2026, and addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Ebonyi State Police Command, Abakaliki.
According to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), J.U. Chulwu, a review of the statements contained in the police case file revealed that Mary Habila was alone at the time she was found dead in her apartment.
The legal advice also stated that the deceased was found lying lifeless on the floor of her apartment without clothes, with blood stains around her nose and mouth.
It further noted that there was no evidence indicating that Habila had been ill or suffered from any unstable health condition before her death, adding that she was reportedly healthy and full of life when she returned to Uburu with members of her team.
The DPP said the circumstances surrounding the death raised questions that could only be answered through a post-mortem examination, which would provide investigators with clues on the cause of death and help direct the police investigation.
However, the legal advice recommended that the police exercise their discretion by either respecting the request of the deceased’s family or proceeding with the post-mortem examination.
The recommendation is expected to guide the next phase of the police investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mary Habila’s death.