Chairman of the Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Denge Josef Onoh, has strongly condemned the seven-day ultimatum issued by the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and allied groups demanding the resignation of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, over the death of a 26-year-old physiotherapist, Mary Habila.
Onoh, a former Southeast spokesperson to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, defended the minister by stating that the tragedy is being transformed into a political spectacle by opposition interests.
He stated that the intense targeting of a Southeast minister exposes a politically motivated agenda rather than a principled concern for justice.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, Onoh described the death of Habila as a tragic incident that deserves a thorough, transparent, and professional investigation by law enforcement agencies.
According to him, while the nation mourns with the family of the deceased and seeks justice, such justice must be founded on facts, credible evidence, and due process rather than “speculation, leaked graphic allegations, or orchestrated outrage.”
Onoh argued that the NYCN’s ultimatum, backed by threats of nationwide protests, was not driven by genuine concern for the deceased but by a calculated political agenda targeted at discrediting a prominent Southeast member of President Tinubu’s administration.
“The rush to judgment, issuance of ultimatums, and threats of mass protests before the conclusion of police investigations or an independent autopsy trivialize the death of the young woman and undermine the rule of law,” he said.
He stressed that under the Nigerian Constitution and relevant criminal procedure laws, no public official or private citizen can be presumed guilty based on media reports, social media narratives, or unverified allegations.
Onoh outlined what he described as the essential requirements of due process, including a comprehensive police investigation, collection and forensic analysis of evidence, an independent autopsy involving the deceased’s family, and judicial determination of any criminal liability.
He noted that Minister Umahi had publicly supported an independent autopsy and insisted that the investigation should proceed without political interference.
Providing further clarification, Onoh stated that the deceased worked as a nurse attached to the Minister and his staff, contrary to reports describing her as a physiotherapist.
He said the death occurred at the Minister’s residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State, after which members of the family reported the matter to the police and efforts were made to revive her at a teaching hospital.
According to him, attempts to pressure authorities through protests and political demands before investigators conclude their work could compromise evidence, intimidate witnesses, and ultimately frustrate the search for justice.
“What should be a solemn criminal investigation is gradually being transformed into a political spectacle,” he stated.
Onoh further alleged that opposition interests were exploiting the incident to settle political scores with Umahi and the Federal Government.
“This is not justice; it is politics with the dead,” he declared.
The former presidential spokesman also accused the NYCN and allied groups of selective outrage and double standards, arguing that similar demands had not been made in previous cases involving Northern political figures or major national tragedies.
He cited years of insecurity, banditry, and insurgency across Northern Nigeria, which resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread displacement, saying such crises did not provoke comparable nationwide ultimatums or resignation demands from Southern groups.
He also referenced controversies surrounding the deaths and medical treatment of prominent Northern political leaders, noting that such incidents were generally met with mourning and political commentary rather than coordinated calls for resignations.
According to Onoh, Southeast socio-political organisations and youth groups have historically exercised restraint by allowing law enforcement agencies and the courts to determine culpability instead of mobilising ethnic or regional pressure.
“The selective intensity with which a Southeast minister is now being targeted, while comparable or even graver situations elsewhere attracted no similar campaigns, exposes the political motivation behind these actions rather than any principled concern for justice or the protection of vulnerable Nigerians,” he said.
Onoh warned that continued agitation by the NYCN could undermine the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
“Minister Umahi cannot—and must not—be pronounced guilty through social media trials, viral campaigns, or politically sponsored narratives.
“Nigeria’s justice system does not operate through ultimatums or street protests that seek to bypass evidence and due process,” he stated.
He urged the Northern Youth Council to withdraw its ultimatum, refrain from actions capable of inflaming ethnic tensions, and instead support an independent and credible investigation.
“The family of Mary Habila deserves the truth and justice, not political exploitation.
“Any attempt to politicise this tragedy will ultimately be recognised for what it is—divisive opportunism that serves no one, least of all the memory of the deceased.
“Let due process prevail. Nigeria needs unity in the pursuit of justice, not division driven by politics,” Onoh concluded.
