Kogi-born political activist, Comrade Usman Okai Austin
Kogi-born political activist and public commentator, Comrade Usman Okai Austin, has formally appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, demanding an immediate and transparent investigation into the death of 26-year-old physiotherapist, Mary Habila.
The deceased was reportedly found lifeless and unclothed at the Abuja residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi.
The tragedy has sparked outrage among civil society groups, with Okai warning that the status of the Minister must not shield him from thorough police scrutiny. Unlike governors, ministers do not enjoy constitutional immunity under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.
In his statement, Okai argued that the tragic incident is not an isolated event but fits into what he described as a troubling history of high-handedness and controversial encounters involving the former Ebonyi Governor and women.
Okai recalled the bitter political feud in 2022 between Umahi and a female senatorial aspirant, Princess Ann Agom-Eze, over the Ebonyi South APC senatorial ticket. The dispute saw Agom-Eze subjected to intense harassment, public vilification, and eventual expulsion from the party—an episode that drew widespread condemnation from gender rights advocates who accused Umahi of using state machinery to intimidate a female rival.
Critics have also pointed to his tenure as governor, during which several female activists and critics faced state-sponsored intimidation for speaking out against his administration.
“This is not the first time the Minister’s name is being dragged into controversies involving the suppression or mistreatment of women.
“Among them is Engr. Stella Ifeoma Okengwu, a Nigerian-American investor and Chief Executive Officer of WINHOMES Estate Global Services Ltd. Okengwu has repeatedly alleged that the Federal Ministry of Works unlawfully diverted the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road into her estate development, resulting in the destruction of part of her investment.
“She has stated that the project affected investments by Nigerians in the diaspora and foreign investors worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The Ministry has not accepted these allegations, and the matter has been the subject of legal proceedings and public advocacy.
“Critics have also referred to allegations previously made by Tracynither, who publicly claimed she experienced inappropriate treatment involving the Minister. Those allegations have attracted public attention but have not been established in court, and the Minister has denied wrongdoing where applicable.
“In addition, Jackie Ikeotuonye has publicly alleged that she suffered unfair treatment in relation to business dealings connected with the Minister. Those claims also remain disputed and have not been judicially determined.
“From political intimidation of female opponents to this grim tragedy, a worrying pattern has emerged that the presidency cannot afford to ignore.
Okai stated that the tragic death of Habila has turned the Minister into a political liability for President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He urged the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu—a long-time advocate for women’s protection—not to remain silent.
“The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has built a legacy of defending the vulnerable, particularly young women. Her silence on this matter would be deafening. This is the time her voice is needed most to ensure that justice is not compromised by political influence,” Okai declared.
The activist also urged pro-women civil society organizations to mobilize and demand accountability, while advising the family of the late Mary Habila to resist any pressure or financial inducements to compromise the case.
“A young woman’s life has been cut short under highly suspicious circumstances in the home of a cabinet minister. The police must prove to Nigerians that no citizen, no matter how highly placed, is above the law,” Okai concluded.
Efforts to reach the Ministry of Works or spokespersons for the Minister for comments on the allegations were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
