A coalition of 300 civil society organisations led by Gender for Social Justice and Good Governance (GFSJGG) has withdrawn its planned protest against the Minister of Works, David Umahi, over the death of Mary Habila, saying its independent findings did not establish any wrongdoing against the minister.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the group said it had reviewed additional evidence, conducted an on-the-spot assessment in Uburu, Ebonyi State, consulted medical personnel and other stakeholders, and found no basis to continue demanding Umahi’s resignation or proceed with the planned demonstrations scheduled for July 23 and 24.

The coalition said its earlier decision to mobilise for a protest was based on information available at the time but stressed that subsequent investigations pointed to a different conclusion.

National Coordinator of GFSJGG, Dr Jumoke Adebiyi and National Publicity Secretary, Amina Danjuma, said the group’s findings suggested that the deceased had underlying health conditions that may have contributed to her death.

They said: “Following our investigation, consultations and review of additional information, we wish to exonerate the Minister of any wrong and have resolved to withdraw our earlier position and cancel the planned protest. Our decision is informed by our conviction that the Minister is innocent.”

The coalition maintained that no citizen should be subjected to public condemnation before the completion of lawful investigations, noting that Umahi had repeatedly called for an autopsy to establish the cause of death.

The group also cautioned against what it described as “trial by media,” urging Nigerians to allow security agencies to conclude their investigations without interference or pressure from public campaigns.

“While no public office holder is above the law, neither should years of public service be disregarded on the basis of allegations that remain under investigation. We believe it is inappropriate to continue demanding the Minister’s resignation in the absence of any official finding establishing wrongdoing,” they stated.

The coalition commiserated with the family of the deceased and appealed to political actors to refrain from exploiting the incident, while calling on Nigerians to remain calm and allow the justice system to perform its constitutional role.

It also commended law enforcement agencies for continuing their investigation and expressed confidence that the truth would emerge through due process.

Recall that Habila reportedly died at the residence of the Works Minister in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, an incident that sparked widespread public outrage, media scrutiny and calls for a thorough investigation.