On January 7th, tragedy struck the household of famed author Chimmanda Adiche as her son,Nkanu Namdi, lost his life at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria due to medical complications.
Following the incident, the author and her husband Dr. Ivara Esege, decided to sue the hospital for alleged medical negligence which includes excessive sedation and inadequate oxygen management. The case was petitioned and has since been in hearing but on June 3, the Coroner’s Court sitting at the Igbosere Magistrate Court on Lagos Island has adjourned the inquest into the death of 21-month-old Master Nkanu Adichie-Esege.
Coroner Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji fixed the date on Wednesday after counsel to Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), informed the court that the Lagos State High Court had ordered a stay of proceedings pending the determination of a judicial review application filed by the hospital.
The court had scheduled the matter for the commencement of hearing before the latest development.
Osipitan told the court that Euracare approached the High Court to challenge the jurisdiction of the Coroner’s Court, arguing that the deceased child’s body had already been cremated before the inquest began.
According to him, the judicial review application seeks to determine whether the Coroner’s Court can lawfully conduct an inquiry into the cause of death without the body.
“One of the issues before the court is whether the Coroner’s Court properly assumed jurisdiction after the body had allegedly been cremated,” Osipitan said.
He added that Justice Aishat Opesanwo granted Euracare leave on May 26, 2026, to seek judicial review through orders of certiorari and prohibition.
“There is also a consequential order that, pending the determination of our substantive suit, this Coroner’s Court be stayed,” he said.
“We have a return date of June 8, 2026. We have served all parties, and our prayer is that this court should defer proceedings in obedience to the order.”
Counsel from the Lagos State Attorney-General’s Office, Adebola Araba, told the court that he had not seen a copy of the order.
Osipitan, however, maintained that the Attorney-General’s office had already been served.
“We filed on Monday and served the Attorney-General’s office yesterday. He may not personally have seen it, but the office has been served,” he said.
Counsel to the deceased’s family, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), informed the court that they had filed and served four witness statements on oath.
The witnesses include the child’s father, Dr. Ivara Esege; Dr. Chinwe Ego from Arizona, United States; another medical expert from Minnesota, United States; and Prof. Adekola of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
“For the record, we have served everybody,” Pinheiro said, adding that he only required confirmation that Osipitan had also been served in line with due process.
Although he acknowledged the High Court’s order, Pinheiro insisted that the inquest should eventually proceed.
“He who has nothing to hide should not fear an open inquest. An innocent man has nothing to fear. It is darkness that fears the light,” he said.
He urged the court to adjourn the matter until after the court vacation rather than indefinitely.
Counsel for Atlantis Pediatric Hospital, Efe Ize-Iyamu, confirmed that his client, listed as the sixth respondent in the judicial review proceedings, had been served with both the enrolled order and the originating motion.
He aligned himself with Pinheiro’s submissions, noting that while all parties remained bound by the stay order, his client had already filed its response.
In reply, Osipitan argued that the key issue remained whether the alleged cremation of the child’s body before the activation of the coroner’s jurisdiction carried legal consequences.
“Whether you are fearful or fearless, there was wilful destruction,” he said.
“You cannot assume jurisdiction. What they did is punishable by 15 years imprisonment. The issue is whether somebody who has done something wrong under the law can push for an inquest.”
Pinheiro countered that the argument amounted to an affront under Section 31 of the Coroner’s Law.
“We will demonstrate instances where inquests have been conducted even without the body,” he said.
After hearing arguments from all parties, Magistrate Adetunji adjourned the matter until Oct. 8, 2026.
