_Party Accuses Tinubu Government Of Running “Cabinet Of Cover-ups”_
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has called for an independent investigation into the death of Ms. Mary Habila, who reportedly died at the private residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and released on Tuesday, the ADC said the circumstances surrounding Ms. Habila’s death “immediately transcends private tragedy and becomes a question of public accountability.”
According to the party, the explanations offered so far have failed to answer critical questions about the incident.
“What exactly was the nature of Ms. Habila’s official assignment? Why was she residing in the Minister’s private residence? What were the precise circumstances leading to her death? What have investigators established so far?” the statement queried.
The ADC demanded an inquiry that is “completely removed from the control or influence of the Executive,” and insisted it must include a full autopsy and a public report of findings.
“This is the only way to ensure that Justice is done; and it is seen to be done. Anything less will only deepen public suspicion and further erode confidence in our institutions,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC further linked the case to what it described as “an increasingly disturbing pattern” under the APC administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“Time and again, whenever serious allegations arise around members of the administration, the default instinct of government is not to facilitate independent scrutiny but to build a wall of political protection around its own,” the party stated.
It accused the Tinubu government of being “more eager to defend reputations than to establish facts,” and said official statements were often “laden with presumptions and bias even before independent inquiries have begun.”
The opposition party said proximity to power now appears to guarantee protection from accountability, adding that the administration now operates “a system of scandal insurance for its senior officials.”
The ADC said the latest case was not about financial crime but about “the death of a young lady who reportedly died in the house of a senior Minister of this government.”
It therefore called on Senator Umahi to “immediately step aside from office pending the conclusion of an independent investigation.”
“Even in a blood-soaked country, human life remains sacrosanct. Therefore, a minister of Federal Republic cannot have a murder-related scandal hanging on his neck and still carry on with business as usual,” the statement read.
The party warned that if President Tinubu refuses to act, “Nigerians will be left with only one conclusion: that his administration has become a Cabinet of Cover-ups, where political convenience consistently takes precedence over transparency and accountability.”
The ADC extended condolences to the family of Ms. Habila, saying “Their daughter deserves dignity. Her family deserves the truth. And Nigeria deserves a government that understands that accountability is not an inconvenience to be managed but the very foundation of public trust.”
As at press time, the Ministry of Works and the police had not issued a fresh statement on the matter.
