Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has dismissed allegations linking him to the death of a female staff member attached to his office, insisting that the deceased was like a daughter to him and that he personally financed her medical treatment while she was alive.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Umahi described the incident as a painful personal loss and condemned attempts to politicise the death, saying the matter is already under police investigation.
The minister explained that the deceased, a nurse and staff member of the Federal University of Health Sciences, had lived with his family for about three years and was receiving treatment for an underlying medical condition at the Turkish Hospital, where he said he personally paid all her medical bills.
“The lady in question was like a daughter to me. She stayed with me for three years. She was a nurse, not a physiotherapist as has been falsely reported. Her family and my family are very close, and all her medical bills were paid by us,” Umahi said.
According to the minister, available information indicates that shortly before her death, the deceased had spoken with her boyfriend and complained of experiencing a nosebleed.
He said the boyfriend advised her to seek immediate medical attention, but she reportedly told him the bleeding had stopped. After ending the call, the boyfriend reportedly called back a few minutes later but received no response.
Umahi further disclosed that the deceased had earlier informed her boyfriend that she was about to take a bath after locking her room.
He said concern grew when repeated attempts to reach her failed, prompting the door to be forced open, where she was found dead with the water tap still running.
“The call records will reveal everything. The last conversation she had was with her boyfriend, who later tried calling her back but got no response. I have asked the police to examine both their call records,” he stated.
The minister questioned why some individuals had rushed to draw conclusions and accuse him without allowing investigators to establish the facts.
“What baffles me is how every unfortunate incident in this country becomes an opportunity for politics. The guest house where she stayed is far from where I live. If someone dies in the Ministry of Works, does it automatically mean the Minister is responsible?” he asked.
Umahi said the deceased had previously suffered similar episodes of nosebleeding, including during an earlier official trip to Lagos for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
According to him, her boyfriend had advised her at the time to seek medical attention immediately, but she reportedly declined because she did not want to inconvenience him.
The minister disclosed that the deceased’s medical records at the Turkish Hospital clearly document her treatment history, adding that the most recent treatment, on April 5, cost approximately ₦2.2 million, which he personally settled.
“Her medical records are there. The last treatment was on April 5, and it cost me ₦2.2 million, which I personally paid. Everything is documented,” he said.
Umahi also clarified that the deceased was not a physiotherapist, contrary to reports circulating on social media, but a qualified nurse employed by the Federal University of Health Sciences.
He added that another female staff member mentioned in online reports had previously worked with him during his tenure as Governor of Ebonyi State before securing federal employment.
Expressing deep sorrow over the loss, the minister described the deceased as one of his most dedicated staff members.
“She was one of my best workers. I am deeply pained by her death. She will be very difficult to replace because she was like a daughter to me,” he said.
On the controversy surrounding an autopsy, Umahi disclosed that although the deceased’s parents initially objected on cultural grounds, he had instructed his legal team to insist on the procedure in the interest of justice.
He confirmed that he had directed that the body should not be released until an autopsy is conducted.
“We pleaded with the family to allow an autopsy, but they said it was against their culture. Through my lawyer, we insisted that an autopsy must be carried out, and I have directed that the body should not be released until that is done,” he stated.
The minister revealed that the matter has been formally reported to the Inspector-General of Police, with a request that the investigation be handled in Abuja.
He also appealed to the deceased’s family to cooperate with investigators by consenting to the autopsy, expressing confidence that a thorough investigation would establish the true cause of death.
Maintaining his innocence, Umahi cautioned against exploiting the tragedy for political purposes and urged Nigerians to allow the investigation to run its course.
“If we had any hand in her death, let justice take its course. But if we are innocent, those making false accusations should reflect on their actions. This is a painful loss, and it should not be turned into politics,” he said.
