Lagos court sets October ruling on bid to halt Adichie son’s inquest

The Lagos State High Court has fixed October 12, 2026, to rule on Eurapharma Care Services Nigeria Limited’s application seeking to stop a coroner’s inquest into the death of Nkanu, son of author Chimamanda Adichie. Justice Aishat Opesanwo set the date after hearing arguments on the hospital’s request for certiorari and prohibition. The orders would quash decisions already made in connection with the inquest and restrain Coroner Atinuke Adetunji from continuing with the investigation.

Euracare’s counsel, Prof Taiwo Osipitan, argued that the cremation of Nkanu’s body affected the coroner’s jurisdiction under the Lagos State Coroners System Law. He said a post-mortem examination could no longer be conducted and that determining the cause of death without one could become speculative. Osipitan also challenged the proposed order of evidence, saying the hospital and its staff were being asked to present their witnesses before the deceased’s family made its allegations.

He argued that, although an inquest was inquisitorial, allegations of medical negligence made it accusatorial in substance and raised fair-hearing concerns. The Lagos State Attorney-General, Lawal Pedro, urged the court to dismiss the application. He relied on provisions which, he said, allowed a coroner to proceed when a body was destroyed or unavailable, and argued that the hospital’s judicial-review application was premature.

Counsel for Nkanu’s family, Kemi Pinheiro, also described the application as premature. He said an inquest was a fact-finding process, not a criminal trial, and that the coroner’s findings would be submitted to relevant authorities. Nkanu died at Euracare on January 7, 2026.

His parents allege breaches of duty of care, while the hospital denies medical negligence.