The Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy has said Mary Habila, the 26-year-old health worker whose death has drawn national attention, was not a registered physiotherapist.
The clarification was contained in a statement posted on the society’s official X handle on Thursday following verification of its professional records.
According to the NSP, “Following verification through the appropriate regulatory channels, the name ‘Mary Habila,’ as stated, does not appear on the database of registered physiotherapists.”
The society said the clarification underscores the importance of verifying the professional status of individuals before identifying them with regulated professions.
It noted that public officials and other stakeholders should exercise due diligence when making statements about professional qualifications.
The statement added that “professional identity should be established through verifiable records rather than assumptions or public perception,” stressing that questions regarding professional qualifications should be addressed through the appropriate regulatory processes rather than speculation.
The NSP also called for respect for the integrity of regulated professions.
“The public deserves accuracy, and professionals deserve to have their qualifications and identities represented truthfully,” the society said.
While making the clarification, the organisation expressed sympathy to the deceased’s family.
“While it is important to establish the facts, we must not lose sight of the human tragedy at the heart of this matter. We extend our sincere condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the deceased, and pray that her soul rests in perfect peace,” the statement added.
The clarification comes amid ongoing public scrutiny over Habila’s death at a residence linked to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Ebonyi State.
Earlier on Thursday, Umahi said Habila was a nurse employed by the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State, dismissing earlier reports that described her as a physiotherapist. He also denied any wrongdoing, saying he suspected no foul play in her death and urged her family to consent to an autopsy.
The incident has continued to generate widespread reactions, with calls for an independent investigation, while police investigations remain ongoing. An autopsy has yet to be conducted following reported objections by the deceased’s family on cultural grounds.
