The CSO drags Umahi, IGP, Mrs Habila’s father to court over the death of the nurse

Civil Society Organization (CSO), Kwechiri Unity Forum, has dragged the Minister of Public Works, David Umahi, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, and Mary Habila’s father to court over the death of Ms Habila.

According to court documents obtained on Monday, the CSO filed the lawsuit through its legal team, led by Eziafa Enwedo, at the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 17.

Habila, a female nurse attached to Umahi, was brought dead to the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, Uburu, Ebonyi State, on June 27.

Apart from the IGP and Umahi, others listed as accused are the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, the Attorney General of the Federation, and Tanko Habila, father of the late Habila.

The group asked the court to compel the IGP and Nigerian Police to investigate Habila’s death and conduct an official autopsy on his body.

They appealed to the courts to argue that public authorities have a duty to protect evidence that could help investigations into unexplained deaths.

The group asked the court that Habila’s death be investigated impartially, regardless of the status or position of the person with the relevant information.

CSO prays that the court grant a temporary injunction, prohibiting the defendants from “removing, burying, burying, cremating or otherwise disposing of the body of the late Habila pending trial and determination of the substantive charges.

The group also asked the court to order the defendants to preserve all available evidence related to Habila’s death pending the conclusion of the investigation into his death.

They further asked the court to order respondents to comply with “recognized forensic and investigative standards where necessary.