Deploy 4,000 influencers to explain Mary Habila’s death instead — Odinkalu to Umahi

Former National Human Rights Commission Chairman, Prof Chidi Odinkalu, has criticised the Federal Government's plan to employ 4,000 social media influencers to showcase the achievements of President Bola Tinubu's administration. In a post on X, Odinkalu questioned the wisdom of using the influencers to highlight the accomplishments of the Minister of Works and Housing, David Umahi, instead suggesting that the resources should be directed towards addressing the circumstances surrounding the death of medical professional Mary Habila.

Odinkalu proposed that the 4,000 influencers could be more effectively utilized to explain the mysterious demise of Habila, who reportedly passed away on June 27, 2026, after being taken to the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital in Uburu, Ebonyi State. Upon her arrival, Habila was pronounced dead, and the minister subsequently sought a forensic autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Habila's family opposed the post-mortem examination and requested the return of her remains for burial. Odinkalu's remarks came in response to Umahi's announcement of the government's intention to deploy 4,000 social media influencers to communicate the achievements of the Tinubu administration, particularly to younger Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general election.