Physiotherapy Body Disputes Minister Umahi's Claim on Late Mary Habila's Professional Status

The Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy has revealed that Mary Habila, the lady who died at the residence of Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, is not listed as a registered physiotherapist. This discovery contradicts the claim made by the minister's team that Habila was a physiotherapist on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works. According to a statement issued by the society's Public Relations Team, Habila's credentials were verified through the appropriate regulatory channels, and her name did not appear in the database of registered physiotherapists. The society emphasized the importance of public officials verifying professional claims before making public statements, stressing that professional identity must be established through recognized regulatory processes rather than assumptions. The association expressed condolences to Habila's family, noting that the controversy surrounding her death should not overshadow the tragedy of her passing. The clarification comes after Minister Umahi stated that Habila and another woman, Anita Baski, were physiotherapists employed by the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, who had been seconded to the Federal Ministry of Works for the past three years. Habila died on June 27 under controversial circumstances at the minister's residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State, sparking widespread public interest and an ongoing police investigation. The authorities have insisted that a forensic autopsy is necessary to determine the exact cause of death before her body is released for burial. The Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy has consistently maintained that professional identity is not a matter of assumption or public perception, but a matter of verifiable fact. The society trusts that this clarification will guide subsequent discussions and remind all stakeholders that the integrity of regulated professions must be respected.