A resurfaced video of Mary Habila, the young woman who was recently found dead under controversial circumstances at the residence of Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, has reignited public concern as the police investigation into her death continues.

The throwback video, recorded in June 2024 after false rumours circulated on social media claiming she had died, showed Habila assuring friends and the public that she was alive and in good health.

Ironically, two years later, on June 27, 2026, Habila was found dead at Umahi’s residence in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State under circumstances that remain the subject of an ongoing police investigation.

The video resurfaced after Anita Baaki, a close friend of the deceased who was also reportedly present at the minister’s residence on the day Habila died, shared it on social media while mourning her.

Sharing the clip, Baaki wrote: “Such a wicked world. On the 24th of June 2024 social media declared you dead. The next day we did this video clearing the air that you were very much alive and healthy. I’m still hoping you can wake up, get dressed and tell me, ‘Let’s do the video again.’ Chia.”

In the video, Baaki jokingly introduced her friend while dismissing the false reports circulating online at the time.

“As you can see, my baby is healthy, very beautiful, smart, doing so majestically. You people should withdraw your statement,” she said.

Responding, Habila herself addressed those who had continued calling to confirm the rumours.

“Yes, please, I still have calls coming in, messages coming in asking if that was true or something. I am fine and healthy and I really don’t know what is happening or what happened.

“But you can see I am fine. They are trying to hack the account or something. I really don’t know,” she said in the video.

The resurfaced footage comes amid mounting controversy over the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death and allegations that efforts have been made to influence the investigation.

As previously reported by SaharaReporters, multiple sources alleged that Minister Umahi sought to have the investigation transferred from the Ebonyi State Police Command to Abuja, alongside plans to move Habila’s body for a forensic autopsy in the Federal Capital Territory.

Sources further alleged that the request followed public outrage over the death and the suspension of Habila’s planned burial after demands for an independent investigation intensified.

SaharaReporters also exclusively reported that Habila was a Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW), contrary to claims by Umahi’s media aide that she was a physiotherapist attached to the Federal Ministry of Works.

The revelation came after the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP) stated that Habila’s name did not appear in its register of licensed physiotherapists.

Meanwhile, Habila’s father, Wisdom Habila, had earlier filed an affidavit before the Ebonyi State High Court indicating that he did not want an autopsy conducted on his daughter’s body.

However, following widespread public concern and calls for transparency, the planned burial was suspended, while police insisted that a forensic autopsy remained necessary to determine the exact cause of death.

The circumstances surrounding Habila’s death remain under police investigation.