The family of the late Mary Habila has renewed its demand for the release of her body for burial as authorities insist that a post-mortem examination is necessary to determine the cause of her death.
According to Saturday Punch on Friday, July 18, 2026, the Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice advised that there was no evidence Habila had any underlying health condition before her sudden death, maintaining that an autopsy is essential to establish both the immediate and underlying causes of death.
Habila’s family has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, accusing the Ebonyi State Police Command of unlawfully withholding her remains despite meeting the requirements for their release. Through their lawyer, the family argued that they should be allowed to bury her in accordance with their religious and cultural traditions.
Expressing the family’s position, Habila’s father said, “All that I want is the body of my daughter.” He added that the family opposes the proposed autopsy and is not accusing anyone of causing her death.
Investigators have reportedly begun inviting individuals considered relevant to the case, while the Inspector-General of Police is expected to review the family’s petition as the investigation continues.
