The Lagos State High Court has suspended proceedings in the coroner's inquest into the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Adichie-Esege, son of author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr Ivara Esege. Justice A. O. Opesanwo granted the order on Monday following an ex parte application by Eurapharma Care Services Nigeria Limited, operator of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Victoria Island, where the child died on 7 January. The application was argued by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Professor Taiwo Osipitan. The company is seeking judicial review of decisions made by the Lagos Coroner's District Court, presided over by Senior Magistrate A. A. Adetunji.
Eurapharma Care Services contends that the coroner's court lacks jurisdiction because the child's body was cremated before the inquest began, making a post-mortem examination impossible. It also challenged a procedural directive requiring the hospital to open its defence and call witnesses first, despite ongoing allegations of medical negligence by the child's parents. The company is requesting orders of certiorari to quash rulings dated 21 January, 25 February, and 14 April 2026, as well as an order of prohibition to stop further inquest proceedings.
Justice Opesanwo ruled that the issues raised are substantial and not frivolous, warranting full judicial review. "The Court is satisfied that the Applicant has met the threshold for the grant of leave. 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 stated. The court granted leave for judicial review and issued a stay on all inquest proceedings pending determination of the main suit. Eurapharma Care Services has 14 days to file its substantive processes. The case has been adjourned to 9 June.
Respondents in the suit include Senior Magistrate A. A. Adetunji, the Chief Coroner of Lagos State, the Lagos State Attorney General, Dr Ivara Esege, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Atlantis Pediatric Hospital Limited. The Lagos State Government initiated the inquest after the child died following treatment at Atlantis Pediatric Hospital and subsequent referral to Euracare. The family alleges medical negligence, including improper sedation. Euracare denies wrongdoing. In March, the Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel suspended the hospital's medical director and two doctors over a prima facie case of negligence.
Eurapharma Care Services is challenging the legality of a coroner's inquest after cremating the child's body, which eliminates the possibility of an independent post-mortem. The hospital's claim of procedural unfairness rings hollow when its actions directly prevented a key part of the investigation. By cremating the body before the inquest concluded, the facility placed itself beyond the reach of forensic scrutiny. This sets a troubling precedent for accountability in medical cases involving powerful institutions.
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