High Court Freezes Inquest Into Death of Chimamanda Adichie’s Son Pending Judicial Review

The Lagos State High Court in Osborne, Ikoyi, has stayed proceedings in the coroner’s inquest investigating the death of Master Nkanu Adichie-Esege, the son of writer Chimamanda Adichie and medical practitioner Dr. Ivara Esege.

Justice A.O. Opesanwo granted the interim order after considering an ex parte motion brought by Eurapharma Care Services Nigeria Limited, the healthcare provider operating the Victoria Island facility where the child reportedly passed away on January 7, 2026.

Represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Prof. Taiwo Osipitan and his legal team, the hospital is seeking judicial review of several decisions taken by the Lagos Coroner’s District Court under the supervision of Senior Magistrate A.A. Adetunji.

At the centre of the dispute is the hospital’s contention that the coroner court should not proceed with the inquest because the deceased’s remains had allegedly been cremated before the coroner’s jurisdiction was activated.

The respondents named in the suit include Senior Magistrate Adetunji, the Chief Coroner of Lagos State, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, Dr. Ivara Esege, Chimamanda Adichie, and Atlantis Pediatric Hospital Limited.

The applicant also objected to a directive compelling it to open its defence and present witnesses first during the inquest despite facing allegations of medical negligence and misconduct from some of the respondents.

In its application, the hospital requested orders of certiorari to nullify decisions made by the coroner court on January 21, February 25 and April 14, 2026, as well as an order prohibiting any further proceedings.

Delivering his ruling, Justice Opesanwo stated that the issues raised deserved full judicial examination.

“The Court is satisfied that the Applicant has met the threshold for the grant of leave. The application is after all not frivolous or vexatious. It raises issues of procedure and fairness that ought to be ventilated at the substantive stage,” he said.

The judge subsequently granted leave for the judicial review proceedings and ordered that the leave should operate as a stay of all proceedings before the coroner court in accordance with Order 44 Rule 3(6)(a) of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019.

The court directed Eurapharma Care Services to file its substantive processes within 14 days and serve all parties involved.

The case was adjourned to June 9, 2026, for further hearing.

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