The legal advice noted that Habila was found alone and unresponsive in her apartment, adding that investigators were unable to determine what led to her death based on the available evidence.

According to the DPP, there was nothing in the investigation to suggest that Habila had any known illness or underlying health condition before her sudden death.

“There was no evidence that the deceased was indisposed, sick or unstable health-wise prior to her sudden death, as she was full of life at the time she returned to Uburu in company of her team,” the document stated.

The ministry argued that, in the absence of any known medical condition, a scientific examination was necessary to establish the actual cause of death.

“From the foregoing, therefore, the question that would readily come to mind is what exactly caused the deceased’s sudden death?” the DPP queried.

It maintained that a post-mortem examination remained the most appropriate means of providing investigators with a clear direction.

“This curiosity under the law can only be resolved through a post-mortem examination, so as to provide a clue to the police as to the direction of their investigation,” the legal advice added.

The Ministry of Justice further stated that the police could either honour the family’s reported wish to proceed with burial without an autopsy or exercise their statutory powers to order the examination.

“It is therefore the view of this office that the police invoke their discretionary power to either respect the request of the deceased’s family or proceed with the post-mortem examination,” the DPP stated.

The recommendation comes amid growing public interest and conflicting reports over the release of Habila’s body for burial.

Her father, Baba Habila, reportedly visited a morgue in Ebonyi State to receive her remains ahead of a planned burial in Nok, Kaduna State, but declined to comment to journalists.

The family was also reported to have indicated that it did not intend to request an autopsy.

However, Habila’s body had reportedly not been released as investigators continued to consider the Ministry of Justice’s recommendation.

According to reports, Habila arrived at Umahi’s residence on June 26 alongside another woman identified as Anita Baski and was found unresponsive the following morning.

The case was initially reported at the Ohaozara Divisional Police Headquarters before it was transferred to the Ebonyi State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

Minister of Works David Umahi later confirmed that Habila died at his residence, describing her as a physiotherapist seconded from the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences to the Federal Ministry of Works.

Umahi also disclosed that he had encouraged the family to consent to an autopsy to establish the cause of death.

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters, citing unnamed police sources, reported that investigators were examining aspects of Habila’s employment history and her relationship with the university and the Federal Ministry of Works.

George allegedly resigned to contest in the governorship primaries in Rivers alongside Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Kingsley Chinda and Tonye Cole.

The Presidency, in a statement dated June 26 by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, announced Namnas as the new head of the agency.

It was observed that although the website lists “Executive Secretary” as the head of the agency, the Presidency uses “Director General” in its statement.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Abdulrazak Sa’ad Namdas as the new Director General of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA). Dr Namdas replaces Dr Dakorinama Alabo George, who resigned to contest for an elective post in his home state.

“A former member of the House of Representatives representing Ganye/Jada/Mayo Belwa/Toungo federal constituency of Adamawa State, Namdas was the spokesperson of the 8th House of Representatives, and an aspirant in the just-concluded governorship primary election in Adamawa State. As a seasoned journalist and public relations practitioner, he also served as Chief Press Secretary to former Governor Boni Haruna of Adamawa State,” the statement published on the State House website read in part.

“All appointments are effective immediately,” it added.

Daily Trust gathered that George, who served as the Commissioner of Works in Rivers under the Wike and Fubara administrations, has refused to vacate the office after the presidential directive and public announcement of his replacement.

Sources said that although he had officially resigned to vie for the APC governorship ticket in Rivers, he did not hand over to anyone and discreetly retained control of the office’s property.

In a report sighted by the publication, George is on the list of 80 screened aspirants with the status ‘cleared,’ ‘not cleared,’ or ‘withdrawn.’ His name appears at number 65 on the list as “Dr George Alabo”, and he was cleared.

However, he withdrew from the contest at the last minute to pave the way for Chida, Wike’s anointed candidate, who consequently emerged as the APC governorship flag bearer in Rivers.

A source said that when George failed to secure the APC governorship ticket, he returned to his office at the agency.

“He is being backed by some government officials, including the FCT Minister. Dr George was Wike’s commissioner of works in Rivers State when the latter was governor. It was also Wike who nominated him for the BCDA position in 2024,” the source said

Another source alleged that George’s backers are working with some other powerful officials in the Presidency to ensure he remains in office without the President’s knowledge.

“Our correspondent gathered that some of his supporters had posted reports on Facebook claiming that President Tinubu had reappointed him to the role.

“The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in his wisdom, has reversed the erroneous replacement of Dr Dax George-Kelly as the Executive Secretary of the Border Communities Development Agency, BCDA,” one of the posts read.

In a now-deleted WhatsApp response, George directed the aforementioned publication to the Presidency for clarification on his status at the agency, insisting he had never resigned.

“The Presidency, through the office of the SGF, will be in a better place to answer you pls. But just so you know, at no time did I resign. I never contested cos [because] I withdrew from the race before the primaries. Thanks, and have a good day.

“An error was made, and it was quickly corrected. That’s the much I can tell you,” he wrote, before deleting the text hours later.

He did not respond to subsequent inquiries.

Meanwhile, Onanuga maintained that Dr George has been replaced with Namnas as the head of the agency. The presidential spokesperson also faulted George’s claim that he had been reappointed.

“Not true. Namdas stays,” he wrote in a terse response to the publication.

Despite his replacement by the Presidency, George continues to parade himself as the head of the BCDA, holding official meetings weeks after he had been replaced. His profile, with the name ‘Dr George D. A Kelly,’ on the website of the agency – https://bcda.gov.ng/ still reads as the serving executive secretary.

Among his recent official engagements was a meeting with the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, last Thursday, during which he appealed for timely budget releases to the agency. Pictures of the meeting were posted on Facebook.

“The decision to extend was based on appeal by the Inter-Party Advisory Council, on behalf of political parties who were unable to upload the names and personal particulars of their candidates within the scheduled timeline,” the statement read.

According to the commission, the extension reflects its commitment to inclusivity and adherence to the provisions of the law governing the electoral process.

“The extension underscores the Commission’s commitment to ensuring inclusivity in its practices, while acting within the ambit of the law,” Haruna stated.

INEC urged political parties yet to complete the process to take advantage of the additional window and ensure that all required information is uploaded before the expiration of the new deadline.

The submission of candidates’ details marks a critical stage in preparations for the 2027 general election.

Under the revised timetable earlier released by the commission, political parties were required to upload nomination forms and candidates’ particulars for the Presidential and National Assembly elections between June 27 and July 11, 2026, through the dedicated Candidate Nomination Portal.

The revised electoral timetable was introduced after changes in the legal framework governing elections, which led to an adjustment of key pre-election activities and election dates.

Under the schedule, Presidential and National Assembly elections are slated for January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.

Following the close of nominations, INEC is expected to publish the personal particulars of candidates submitted by political parties, allowing members of the public and stakeholders to scrutinise the information as provided under the electoral process.

The publication of candidates’ particulars for the Presidential and National Assembly elections is scheduled for August 14, 2026.

INEC reiterated that no further delay should be expected and urged all parties to comply with the revised deadline to avoid disqualification from the nomination process.