Anita Baaki, a colleague of the 26-year-old Physiotherapist Mary Habila, who died at the residence of Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Uburu, Ebonyi State, has filed a sworn affidavit before the High Court of Ebonyi State detailing the events leading to the deceased’s death.
In the affidavit sworn at the High Court Registry in Abakaliki on July 15, 2026, Baaki gave a first-hand account of the final hours she spent with Habila before she was found unconscious inside her locked room.
According to Baaki, she had worked with Umahi since his days as governor of Ebonyi State and was later employed by the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUS).
She stated that she and Habila had worked together under the Minister of Works for about three years and had developed a close friendship.
She told the court that she and Habila, alongside other members of the minister’s staff, travelled from Abuja to Ebonyi on June 24, 2026.
“On the fateful night of 26th day of June, 2026 at the Ministers house in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, we have stayed in the same staff chalet in our respective rooms which are next to each other,” Baaki stated.
“Late Mary Habila went to make her hair and came back to show me in my room, after we joked about it she told me that she is tired and want to take a shower before she sleeps, that was the last time we saw each other for the night.
“The following morning when I did not see her as usual, I called her phone but the call was not going through then I left my room to knock on her door hich was locked from the inside but there was no response, then I became apprehensive and instructed a domestic servant to search for her around the house.”
She said repeated calls to the deceased’s phone failed to connect, prompting her to knock on Habila’s door, which she claimed was locked from the inside.
Baaki stated that after receiving no response, she instructed a domestic servant to search the premises for Habila, but the search yielded nothing.
She added that the situation prompted a wider search, which eventually led to the door being forced open.
According to the affidavit, Habila was discovered lying on the floor near the entrance to her room.
“She was not found anywhere in the house, so I alerted everyone and a thorough search began which led to forcing her door open. Lo and behold she was found on the floor close to the door,” the affidavit read.
Baaki said Habila was immediately rushed to the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, where doctors confirmed her dead on arrival.
Baaki also declared that she made the statement voluntarily, saying, “I wish to state herein, that I was never induced, coerced or influenced in any way or with anything by anybody to make these dispositions.”
She added that the affidavit was made for “record and official purposes” and affirmed that its contents were true to the best of her knowledge in accordance with the Oaths Act, 2004.
The affidavit is the latest document to emerge amid public scrutiny surrounding Habila’s death at the minister’s residence, a case that has continued to generate widespread public interest and demands for an independent investigation.
Source: SaharaReporters
