The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has dismissed an application by Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital seeking to stop a coroner’s inquest into the death of Nkanu Esege, the 21-month-old son of renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Ivara Esege.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Aishat Opesanwo struck out the hospital’s originating motion seeking writs of Certiorari and Prohibition, ruling that the application was based on a fundamental misconception of the nature and jurisdiction of a coroner’s court.
The judge held that the inquest could proceed despite the absence of the child’s body, stressing that a coroner’s inquiry is a fact-finding process rather than a criminal or civil trial.
Why the Court Dismissed Euracare’s Application
Justice Opesanwo cited Section 15(2) of the Lagos State Coroner’s System Law 2007, holding that an inquest is compulsory in cases involving a death in custody occurring within a medical facility.
She rejected Euracare’s argument that the cremation of the child’s body and its subsequent absence deprived the coroner of jurisdiction.
According to the judge, the relevant consideration is the location where the death occurred, not whether a corpse is physically available during the proceedings.
The court also clarified that a coroner’s inquest seeks to establish who died and how, when and where the death occurred. It is not designed to determine criminal or civil liability or punish any party.
“A coroner’s inquest is a fact-finding inquiry… It is not a trial. No one is on trial in a coroner’s court. Unlike other courts—whether civil or criminal—there is no claimant, prosecution, or defence,” Justice Opesanwo stated.
Hospital’s Objections to the Inquest
Euracare had approached the High Court after the Lagos State Government initiated an inquest into the circumstances surrounding the toddler’s death.
The hospital argued that proceeding without the child’s body for a post-mortem examination could lead to speculative conclusions and waste public resources.
It also challenged the decision to require its medical personnel to present evidence first, arguing that the procedure violated its constitutional right to a fair hearing under Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
However, Justice Opesanwo held that a coroner’s court does not operate under the strict evidential rules and conventional trial procedures that apply to civil and criminal proceedings.
The judge further ruled that the coroner has statutory discretion to determine the sequence in which witness statements and evidence are received. She added that judicial review could not be used to truncate a process mandated by state law.
Background to Nkanu Esege’s Death
Nkanu Esege died on 7 January 2026 at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos.
Following his death, his parents accused the hospital of gross medical negligence, alleging that an excessive dose of sedatives and a denial of oxygen led to cardiac arrest.
The hospital has maintained that the child arrived critically ill and received care in line with standard medical protocols.
The allegations remain distinct from the purpose of the coroner’s inquest, which is to establish the circumstances surrounding the toddler’s death.
Inquest Expected to Proceed
With the High Court dismissing Euracare’s application, the coroner’s inquest into the toddler’s death is expected to proceed.
The inquiry will examine the circumstances surrounding the Adichie’s son’s death, with the court emphasising that its primary purpose is fact-finding rather than the determination of criminal or civil liability.
