The Coroner’s Inquest into the death of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Ivara Esege’s 21-month-old son, Nkanu Adichie-Esege, has been suspended following a court order from the Lagos High Court and adjourned to October 8, 2026.
The proceedings, which were scheduled to commence before Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji at the Magistrate Court, Igbosere, Lagos Island, were halted after counsel to Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Taiwo Osipitan, informed the court of an interim order stopping the inquest pending the determination of a judicial review application.
Osipitan told the court that Euracare had approached the High Court to challenge the jurisdiction of the Coroner’s Court to proceed with the inquest, arguing that the deceased child had allegedly been cremated before the commencement of the coronial process.
He further stated that the High Court had granted leave for judicial review and issued an order staying all proceedings before the Coroner’s Court until the substantive matter is determined, adding that the case is expected to be heard on June 8, 2026.
He maintained that the central issue before the High Court is whether a coroner can lawfully conduct an inquest in the absence of the deceased’s body, insisting that the question goes to the root of jurisdiction.
Counsel to the Lagos State Attorney-General’s Office, Adebola Araba, informed the court that he had not yet been formally served with the enrolled High Court order, although opposing counsel insisted that the Attorney-General’s office had already been duly served.
Meanwhile, counsel to the deceased’s family,Kemi Pinheiro, disclosed that the family had already filed and served four witness statements on oath across all parties.
The proposed witnesses include the child’s father, Ivara Esege; medical experts Dr. Chinwe Ego from Arizona and another physician based in Minnesota, United States; and a consultant from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
Pinheiro, while acknowledging the existence of the High Court’s stay order, argued that the inquest should not be stalled indefinitely.
He maintained that coronial proceedings remain valid even in cases where a body is unavailable, insisting that the family would demonstrate legal and procedural grounds for the inquest to proceed.
He urged the court to consider adjourning the matter until after the court vacation rather than allowing an open-ended delay, stressing the importance of transparency in determining the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
“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 told the court.
Counsel to Atlantis Pediatric Hospital, Efe Ize-Iyamu, confirmed awareness of the High Court’s order and the originating motion, aligning with the position that the stay of proceedings must be respected.
He added that necessary responses had already been filed in relation to the substantive issues raised.
In his response, Osipitan reiterated that the core issue before the High Court is the question of jurisdiction, particularly whether the Coroner’s Court can proceed after the alleged cremation of the deceased child’s remains.
After listening to submissions from all parties, Magistrate Adetunji noted the subsisting order of the High Court and formally adjourned the inquest to October 8, 2026, pending further judicial determination.