Lagos court reserves ruling on bid to halt inquest into child’s death

The Lagos State High Court in Ikoyi has reserved October 12, 2026, for a ruling on an application by Eurapharma Care Services Nigeria Limited to halt a coroner’s inquest into the death of Nkanu Adichie-Esege, the son of author Chimamanda Adichie and Dr Ivara Esege. Justice Aishat Opesanwo set the date after hearing arguments on Eurapharma’s request for judicial review. The company, which operates Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, is seeking orders to quash decisions connected with the inquest and prevent Coroner Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji from continuing with the proceedings.

Nkanu died on January 7, 2026, at Euracare while receiving medical treatment. His parents subsequently raised allegations concerning the duty of care provided to their son. Euracare has denied medical negligence allegations, describing them as inaccurate and unfounded.

A central issue is whether the hospital and its personnel should begin presenting evidence before the family has made its case. Senior Advocate of Nigeria Taiwo Osipitan, representing Eurapharma, argued that the direction requiring the hospital to lead evidence created a fair-hearing problem. He said an earlier agreement concerned hearing dates, not the order in which witnesses would testify.

Osipitan also challenged the continuation of the inquest after Nkanu’s remains were cremated. Relying on provisions of the Lagos State Coroners System Law, he argued that determining the cause of death would ordinarily require a post-mortem examination and that the cremation made this impossible. He also said the Chief Pathologist of Lagos State had not conducted a post-mortem or authorised the cremation.

Counsel for the parents, Kemi Pinheiro, urged the court to dismiss the application as premature. He argued that no witness had testified, no evidence had been taken and the Coroner had made no substantive decision capable of being quashed. He said an inquest was a fact-finding process rather than a criminal trial.

Pinheiro maintained that the law allowed proceedings to continue where remains had been destroyed or could not be recovered. Lagos State Attorney-General Lawal Pedro also urged the court to reject the hospital’s application. The High Court’s ruling is expected on October 12.