Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has disclosed details of the last conversation between late nurse Habila and her boyfriend before her death, saying she pleaded with him not to end their phone call after complaining of persistent nose bleeding.
Umahi, who spoke on Thursday about the circumstances surrounding the death of the Federal Medical University staff member, denied any involvement in the incident and rejected claims linking his residence to her death.
The minister described Habila as “like a daughter” to him, saying she had lived with his family for three years and worked as a registered nurse, not a physiotherapist as previously reported.
According to Umahi, Habila contacted her boyfriend shortly before she died and told him she was bleeding from the nose.
“She spoke to her boyfriend at the hour of her death and complained that she was bleeding from the nose. The boyfriend advised her to report the situation and suggested that continuing the phone conversation could worsen the bleeding,” Umahi said.
He added that the boyfriend attempted to end the call but Habila pleaded with him not to.
“He then told her he would end the call, but she pleaded with him, saying, ‘Don’t cut the call.’ He eventually ended the call, and when he called back about three minutes later, she was no longer responding,” the minister said.
Umahi said Habila had earlier informed her boyfriend that she was going to take a bath before concerns were raised when she stopped responding.
“When people later became concerned because she wasn’t responding, they forced the door open and found the tap still running,” he said.
The minister also disclosed that Habila had been receiving medical treatment at a Turkish hospital, adding that his family had assisted with her medical expenses.
He said her most recent hospital visit was on April 5, where about N2.2 million was spent on treatment.
“The medical records are there. She had been undergoing treatment, and the records speak for themselves,” Umahi said.
Rejecting allegations of foul play, Umahi said Habila and another female medical worker stayed in a guest house away from his residence.
“I don’t suspect any foul play. She was one of my best workers, a nurse who administered medication to us, even at my residence in Asokoro. It is painful because she was like a daughter to me,” he said.
The minister urged Habila’s family to permit an autopsy to determine the cause of death, saying it was important for establishing the facts.
“I am begging the family to meet with the Inspector-General of Police so they can be convinced to allow the autopsy. We have directed that the body should not be released until that is done,” he said.
Umahi further stated that he had requested the Inspector-General of Police to move the investigation to Abuja to ensure a transparent process.
He said investigators had also been instructed to obtain the call records of Habila and her boyfriend to confirm details of their final conversation.
The minister condemned attempts to politicise the incident and warned against spreading unverified information about the nurse’s death.
