Jul 15, 2026

Dalung Blasts Cover-Up in Mary Habila’s Death at Umahi’s Mansion

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in news

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ABUJA, Nigeria — Veteran politician and former Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, has ignited fresh controversy with a scathing critique of what he describes as glaring double standards in the investigation into the death of 26-year-old physiotherapist Mary Habila at the country home of Works Minister David Umahi in Uburu, Ebonyi State.

In a widely circulated video statement, Dalung declared: “If Umahi’s daughter had been found naked in a poor man’s house, Nigeria would be burning.”

His remarks highlight deep-seated public frustration over perceived unequal application of justice when powerful figures are involved versus ordinary citizens.

Mary Habila was found dead on June 27, 2026, inside Umahi’s residence. Reports indicate she and colleague Anita Baski had traveled from Kaduna State.

Her body was reportedly discovered naked, prompting intense public scrutiny and questions about the circumstances of her presence there.

Umahi has maintained that Habila was a physiotherapist from the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, seconded to provide services at his home for about three years.

He says he immediately called for medical help and police, and has urged the family to allow an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

The case was transferred to the Ebonyi State Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

While Umahi denies any cover-up and insists on full investigation, critics — including groups like the Nigerian Women International Alliance (NWIA) — continue to demand an independent, transparent probe free from interference.

Dalung’s intervention taps into a long-standing Nigerian grievance: the perception that the rich and powerful often receive kid-glove treatment while the less privileged face swift and harsh scrutiny.

This case has become a lightning rod for discussions about class, power, accountability, and justice in a deeply unequal society.

Public reactions on social media reflect widespread cynicism. Many echo Dalung’s sentiments, questioning why the investigation appears slow or subdued compared to similar cases involving ordinary people.

Others demand answers on the exact nature of Habila’s visit, the absence of clear official documentation for her secondment, and why initial reports suggested hurried burial plans without autopsy.

Minister Umahi has pushed back against what he calls defamatory narratives, emphasizing cooperation with authorities.

However, as calls for President Bola Tinubu to order an independent probe intensify, the incident continues to fuel national debate about elite impunity.

This tragedy transcends one death. It forces Nigerians to confront uncomfortable truths about how power influences outcomes in life-and-death matters.

For a young professional woman like Mary Habila — whose life was cut short under mysterious circumstances — the pursuit of truth should not depend on the social status of those connected to the case.

As investigations proceed, the eyes of a skeptical public remain fixed on authorities.

True justice demands thoroughness, transparency, and impartiality — regardless of whose residence the incident occurred in or whose daughter might hypothetically be involved.

The nation waits for answers that can restore even a sliver of public confidence in the system. Anything less will only deepen the sense of two-tiered justice that Dalung so powerfully highlighted.