The Lagos State High Court sitting at Osborne, Ikoyi, has temporarily halted the coroner’s inquest into the death of Nkanu Adichie-Esege, the son of acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr. Ivara Esege.
Justice A.O. Opesanwo granted the order after an ex parte application filed by Eurapharma Care Services Nigeria Limited, operators of the Victoria Island hospital where the child reportedly died on 7 January 2026.
The hospital is challenging the inquest, arguing that the coroner lacks jurisdiction because the child’s body was allegedly cremated before proceedings commenced. The legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Professor Taiwo Osipitan, also questioned a directive requiring the hospital to present its defence and call witnesses first, despite facing allegations of medical negligence.
Respondents in the suit include Senior Magistrate A.A. Adetunji, the Chief Coroner of Lagos State, the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Ivara Esege, Ms Adichie, and Atlantis Pediatric Hospital Limited.
Justice Opesanwo ruled that the application raised substantial issues of procedure and fairness. “The application is not frivolous or vexatious. It raises issues of procedure and fairness that ought to be ventilated at the substantive stage,” the judge said.
The court has granted Eurapharma Care Services 14 days to file its substantive judicial review application, during which all coroner proceedings remain suspended. The matter has been adjourned until 9 June 2026 for further hearing.
