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The Coroner’s Court sitting at the JIC Taylor Courthouse in the Igbosere area of Lagos Island on Wednesday adjourned further hearing in the inquest into the death of 21-month-old Master Nkanu Adichie-Esege, son of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr Ivara Esege, until October 8, 2026.
Coroner Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji fixed the new date after counsel to Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, informed the court that the Lagos State High Court had granted an order staying the inquest pending the determination of a judicial review application.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, which had been scheduled for the commencement of hearing, Osipitan stated that Euracare had approached the High Court to challenge the jurisdiction of the Coroner’s Court to conduct the inquest.
According to him, a major issue raised in the judicial review proceedings is whether the Coroner’s Court validly assumed jurisdiction given that the deceased child’s body had reportedly been cremated before the inquest commenced.
He added that the application also seeks clarification on whether the court can lawfully investigate the cause of death in the absence of the body.
Osipitan told the court that Justice Aishat Opesanwo of the Lagos State High Court granted Euracare leave on May 26, 2026, to pursue judicial review by way of orders of certiorari and prohibition.
He further stated that the court ordered a stay of proceedings pending the determination of the substantive suit and informed the Coroner’s Court that all parties had been served.
Counsel from the Lagos State Attorney-General’s Office, Adebola Araba, said he had not personally seen a copy of the order, although Osipitan maintained that the office had been duly served.
Counsel to the deceased’s family, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kemi Pinheiro, informed the court that four witness statements on oath had been filed and served. According to Pinheiro, the witnesses include Dr Ivara Esege, Dr Chinwe Ego of Arizona in the United States, another medical expert from Minnesota, and Prof. Adekola of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
While acknowledging that the family was bound by the stay order, Pinheiro maintained that the inquest should eventually proceed.
“He who has nothing to hide should not fear an open inquest. An innocent man has nothing to fear. It is darkness that fears the light,” he said.
He urged the court to adjourn the matter until after the court vacation rather than indefinitely, but after hearing submissions from all parties, Magistrate Adetunji adjourned the matter until October 8, 2026.
