Coroner Adjourns Inquest into Death of Chimamanda’s Son to October after Court Order

Proceedings of the coroner’s inquest into the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Adichie-Esege, son of Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie, has been adjourned to October 8, 2026.

Atinuke Adetunji, the coroner sitting at the Igbosere magisterial district in Yaba, on Wednesday adjourned the inquest’s proceedings to October following an order of the Lagos high court.

THE COURT ORDER

A high court in Lagos had ordered a temporary halt to the ongoing coroner’s inquest into the death of 21-month-old Nkanu, pending a judicial review of how the inquest was initiated and conducted.

The court issued the order following an application filed by Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital.

Nkanu, one of Adichie’s twins, died on January 7, 2026, following complications during a series of preparatory medical procedures.

Adichie subsequently served the hospital a legal notice, alleging that medical negligence and professional misconduct contributed to her son’s death.

In February, proceedings of the coroner to investigate and determine the circumstances that led to the death of Adichie’s son, started.

TheCable reported that during the proceedings of the coroner, it emerged that the child had been cremated — a development that raises questions on the availability of the primary forensic evidence.

The hospital had approached the Lagos high court to seek judicial review on whether the coroner’s court properly assumed jurisdiction, particularly considering that the child’s body had already been cremated before the inquest process began.

WEDNESDAY’S PROCEEDINGS

At the court on Wednesday, Taiwo Osipitan, counsel to Euracare, told the coroner that the hospital had initiated judicial review proceedings challenging, among other issues, the jurisdiction of the coroner’s court to conduct the inquest in the absence of the deceased’s body

Osipitan said the Lagos high court granted leave for the judicial review application and ordered that the leave operate as a stay of proceedings pending the determination of the suit.

Responding, Kemi Pinheiro, counsel to the family, confirmed the receipt of the originating processes and the Lagos high court order.

Pinheiro said the family had already filed four witness statements on oath, including that of Ivara Esege, father of the child; independent medical experts from Nigeria and the United States, who are expected to testify at the inquest.

The counsel urged the court not to adjourn the matter indefinitely but to a definite date after the court vacation to enable parties to report on developments in the high court proceedings.

“He who is innocent does not fear an open inquest. The innocent man is not afraid of the lamp; it is the darkness that fears the light,” Pinheiro said.

After the arguments, the coroner adjourned the matter to October 8, 2026, for a report on the status of the high court proceedings.