…Says he vowed to deal with him, teach him a lesson
The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has alleged that the Minister of Works, David Umahi, threatened its National President, Engr. Tabara Samuel Kato, following the group’s lawsuit seeking an independent investigation into the death of 26-year-old nurse Mary Habila.
Addressing newsmen at an emergency press conference yesterday, SOKAPU claimed that Umahi contacted Kato via WhatsApp at about 9:39 a.m. on July 28 (yesterday), after learning about the lawsuit and a recent television interview granted by the SOKAPU president.
According to Kato, the Minister identified himself before allegedly issuing threats over the legal action. He claimed Umahi said: “I am David Umahi, the Honourable Minister of Works. I saw your suit against me. You need money, right? I will teach you a lesson you will never forget. I will give you 10 lawsuits. People are mourning and you are taking me to court. I will deal with you”, before ending the call.
SOKAPU described the alleged remarks as an attempt to intimidate its leadership and discourage the organisation from pursuing the case. The group insisted that its decision to seek judicial intervention is a constitutional right and maintained that it would not be deterred.
The association also renewed its call for an independent forensic autopsy to establish the exact cause of Mary Habila’s death and urged President Bola Tinubu, the 10th National Assembly, Governor Uba Sani, the Inspector-General of Police, and other security agencies to take note of the alleged threats.
The development comes days after SOKAPU filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Kaduna State High Court, seeking an independent forensic autopsy, a fresh police investigation, and ₦20 billion in damages over Habila’s death at Umahi’s country home in Uburu, Ebonyi State, on or about June 27.
SOKAPU argued that Habila died under unexplained and controversial circumstances, alleging that her body was taken to a mortuary without a formal police report. The group is asking the court to order an independent autopsy by pathologists from Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, and the National Hospital, Abuja. It is also seeking a court order directing the Nigeria Police Force to conduct a comprehensive investigation before the body is released for burial.
The lawsuit followed growing public concern over Habila’s death. Police authorities in Abuja have since taken over the investigation from the Ebonyi State Police Command, while her body has been moved to the National Hospital, Abuja, for a forensic autopsy.
Minister Umahi has acknowledged that Habila died at his residence and has repeatedly stated that he supports a forensic autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with the incident.
