Family Demands Release of Nurse's Body from Minister's Residence After Three Weeks.

"We Just Want Our Daughter Back": Father Pleads as Autopsy Dispute Continues.

The family of Mary Habila, a 26 year old nurse who died while working at the residence of Works Minister David Umahi, made an emotional appeal to the Inspector General of Police on Friday, begging for the release of her body so they can finally lay her to rest.

Speaking at police headquarters in Abuja, the family's lawyer, Kaile Yusuf, explained that nearly three weeks have passed since Habila's death on June 27, yet her remains remain in official custody despite the family completing every procedure the police requested for her release.

"It is regrettable that, having followed all necessary procedures by the family as required by the Nigerian Police to retrieve the body to give her a befitting burial, having stayed long in that process, unfortunately her body is yet to be released to the family," Yusuf told journalists.

The family also pushed back against what they called "misinformation" about Habila's identity, insisting she was a trained nurse not a physiotherapist as some reports claimed. She had worked at the David Umahi University of Health Sciences before being deployed to the minister's office, where she served as a civil servant for about three years.

The dispute centers on an autopsy. While Umahi and the Ebonyi State Police Command insist a post-mortem is necessary to determine the cause of death, the family has repeatedly rejected the request.

"We are here to also ascertain the fact that the Minister has requested time without number for the autopsy of late Mary Habila, but the family has resolved and are determined and standing their ground not to allow it because of some personal, cultural and traditional reasons," Yusuf said.

Tanko Habila, the grieving father, made a simple but heartbreaking plea: "I don't have much to talk in this case; all I want is the corpse of my daughter. We don't keep corpse of little children for so long like this. So, that is why I am here again to say this once and for all, I need the corpse of my daughter to take her for burial, that is what I am standing on."

The family has petitioned the IGP against the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, seeking intervention to secure the immediate release of Habila's remains. They emphasized they are not accusing anyone over her death and had maintained a cordial relationship with her workplace before the incident.

Habila's colleague, Anita Baaki, clarified that she was the physiotherapist, while Habila worked alongside her as a nurse. The family lawyer also dismissed any suggestion that Habila was anything other than a dedicated professional.

"It is at this point that we want to make clear to the world that Mary Habila has never been a runs girl or whatever, and she has been in Abuja working with the minister before her eventful death, and this is the truth," Yusuf stated.

As the standoff continues, the family's only wish remains unchanged to bring their daughter home.