A Lagos High Court has temporarily halted proceedings in the coroner's inquest into the death of Master Nkanu Adichie-Esege, the young son of renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie and medical doctor Ivara Esege. The hospital at the center of the controversy is challenging the legality of the inquest and raising questions about jurisdiction, adding a new layer of intrigue to a case that has continued to attract public attention.
Court Order and Background
Justice A.O. Opesanwo of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Osborne, Ikoyi, issued the order following an ex parte application filed by Eurapharma Care Services Nigeria Limited, operators of the Victoria Island hospital where the child reportedly died on January 7, 2026. The hospital is seeking a judicial review of the ongoing coroner's proceedings and has questioned whether the inquest should continue under the current circumstances.
Hospital's Arguments
According to court documents, the medical facility argued that the coroner may lack jurisdiction to conduct the investigation because the child's remains were allegedly cremated before the inquest commenced. The hospital's legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Professor Taiwo Osipitan, also challenged aspects of the proceedings, particularly a directive requiring the hospital to begin presenting its defense and witnesses before other issues had been fully addressed.
Among those listed as respondents in the suit are Senior Magistrate A.A. Adetunji, the Chief Coroner of Lagos State, the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Ivara Esege, Chimamanda Adichie, and Atlantis Pediatric Hospital Limited.
Judge's Ruling
In delivering the ruling, Justice Opesanwo stated that the application before the court raised important legal questions that deserved careful examination. The judge noted that the matter could not be dismissed as frivolous because it touched on issues of fairness and procedure. "The application is not frivolous or vexatious. It raises issues of procedure and fairness that ought to be ventilated at the substantive stage," the court held.
As a result, all proceedings before the coroner have now been placed on hold pending further determination of the application. The court has granted Eurapharma Care Services 14 days to file its substantive judicial review application. Until then, the coroner's inquest remains suspended.
Next Hearing
The matter has been adjourned until June 9, 2026, when parties are expected to return to court for further proceedings. This development comes months after the heartbreaking loss of the young boy, whose passing generated widespread sympathy across Nigeria and beyond.
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In a separate incident, Fuji musician Shanko Rasheed, born Atanda Adekunle Rasheed, shared heartbreaking news about the loss of his son. The singer took to his Instagram page on Friday, February 27, to announce the passing of his child, Alhamdulilahi Jamaldeen Emrys Atanda JNR. In the emotional post, he poured out his pain in words that touched many of his followers.
This article was written by Olaniyi Apanpa, a seasoned journalist with over 6 years of experience in sports, metro, politics, and entertainment reporting. He has written for renowned platforms such as Opera News, Scooper News, The PUNCH, and currently works as a Senior Entertainment Editor at Legit.ng.
