Dave Umahi: Why Would A Minister Need A Physiotherapist At His Village Home For There Years? -Chukwu

Chikwado Chukwu, a visually-impaired human rights activist and Executive Director of Disability Rights Protection Initiative, has called for a thorough investigation into the death of physiotherapist Mary Habila at the Uburu residence of Minister of Works, Dave Umahi.

According to a report by Punch Newspaper on Thursday, July 16, 2026, while reporting the incident, Chukwu questioned the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death and demanded answers over why the matter was not publicly addressed earlier by relevant authorities.

He raised concerns about Habila’s presence at the minister’s village residence, arguing that the situation required proper scrutiny to determine what happened before her death and why she was assigned there for an extended period.

In his statement, he said, “we call for a probe into the circumstances surrounding the death. The question is why a minister would need a physiotherapist at his village home, away from his office and any clinic for three years, and why it took a private media outfit, rather than the police or the state government to tell the public that a woman had died there.”

Chukwu also questioned the role of Jonathan Bawado, a serving police officer linked to Umahi, saying his involvement in bringing the physiotherapists to the residence should be examined as part of the investigation.

The activist’s call followed a statement by Umahi’s aide, Francis Nweze, who confirmed Habila’s death and explained that she and another physiotherapist were employees of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu.

In his concluding remarks, Chukwu insisted that authorities must conduct a transparent probe into the matter, stressing that only a detailed investigation could provide answers to the questions surrounding Mary Habila’s death and address public concerns……See More