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The Southern Kaduna Peoples United Associations (SOKAPU) has defended its demand for ₦20 billion in compensation over the death of medical professional Mary Habila, insisting the claim is not a declaration of guilt against anyone but a legal remedy that would only become relevant if investigations establish criminal wrongdoing.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, SOKAPU President, Samuel Tabara, said the association’s priority remains a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death, including an autopsy to determine its actual cause.
Responding to questions about why SOKAPU was demanding ₦20 billion despite no official finding implicating the Minister of Works, David Umahi, Tabara stressed that the association was not accusing the minister of any offence.
“We are seeking an investigation, and if the investigation proves that there is a need for legal action, we go ahead with the legal action,” he said.
“It is not for us to categorically say that the minister is complicit or not, and this is the one reason why an investigation should be conducted to lay to rest every element of doubt.”
Tabara explained that the compensation figure was intended to cover damages that could arise if the courts eventually determine that criminal negligence or any other unlawful act contributed to Habila’s death.
> “The ₦20 billion has to do with damages related to her death if there is some element of criminality in the matter,” he said.
> “We have put a figure forward. It is for the court of law to finally determine where necessary.”
He disclosed that SOKAPU had instructed its lawyers to commence legal processes while awaiting the outcome of investigations, adding that the association was also pressing for a forensic examination despite the deceased’s family’s opposition to an autopsy.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police has a statutory duty to investigate suspected criminal matters irrespective of the wishes of the deceased’s relatives.
Mary Habila reportedly died at a private residence belonging to the Minister of Works in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, where she was said to have been on official duty. Her remains have remained in police custody since the incident.
While Habila’s family has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to release her body for burial without an autopsy, Umahi has also called for a comprehensive forensic examination and an impartial investigation, insisting that only a transparent process can establish the true cause of death and ensure justice for all parties.
