The Coroner’s Court, sitting in the Igbosere Magistrate Court on Lagos Island, has adjourned further proceedings in the inquest into the death of 21-month-old Master Nkanu Adichie-Esege, son of renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr. Ivara Esege.
Coroner Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji set the date on Wednesday after Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, counsel for Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, informed that the Lagos State High Court had ordered a stay of proceedings pending the outcome of the hospital’s judicial review application.
The inquest was scheduled to commence hearing before the development.
Osipitan stated that Euracare had moved the High Court to challenge the Coroner’s Court’s jurisdiction, claiming that the deceased child’s body was burned before the inquest process began.
According to him, the judicial review is intended to establish whether the Coroner’s Court can properly conduct an inquest in the absence of the deceased’s remains.
“The High Court granted leave for judicial review and also ordered that pending the determination of the substantive suit, proceedings before this Coroner’s Court should be stayed,” Osipitan said.
He said that the High Court’s order adjourned the case until June 8, 2026, and encouraged the Coroner’s Court to adjourn any proceedings in accordance with the decision.
Adebola Araba, counsel for the Lagos State Attorney General’s Office, informed the court that he had yet to receive a copy of the enrolled order, despite Osipitan’s assertion that the Attorney General’s office had already been served.
Meanwhile, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), counsel for the deceased’s family, revealed that four sworn witness statements had been filed and served on all parties.
The witnesses include the child’s father, Dr. Ivara Esege; medical experts Dr. Chinwe Ego of Arizona and another doctor from Minnesota in the United States; and Prof. Adekola of Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
While respecting the High Court’s order, Pinheiro demanded that the inquest 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 told the court.
Pinheiro also encouraged the coroner to adjourn the case until after the court vacation, rather than indefinitely.
Efe Ize-Iyamu, counsel for Atlantis Pediatric Hospital, acknowledged that his client had received both the High Court’s order and the original motion.
He agreed with Pinheiro’s stance, observing that, although being bound by the stay order, the parties had already filed their reply.
In response, Osipitan argued that the fundamental question before the High Court was whether the Coroner’s Court could exercise jurisdiction following the reported cremation of the child’s body.
Pinheiro, on the other hand, maintained that inquests could still be held in the absence of a body and that the family would demonstrate this during the hearings.
After hearing all parties, Magistrate Adetunji adjourned the case until October 8, 2026.
