Court Adjourns Adichie Family Inquest as Jurisdiction Battle Delays Child Death Probe
The Coroner’s Court sitting in Lagos has adjourned further hearing in the inquest into the death of 21-month-old Master Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, son of author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr Ivara Esege, as legal arguments over jurisdiction continue.
The case was shifted to October 8, 2026, after the Lagos State High Court ordered a stay of proceedings pending the determination of a judicial review filed by Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital. The hospital is challenging the coroner’s jurisdiction to proceed with the inquest.
According to counsel for the hospital, the application questions whether the court can continue its inquiry after the alleged cremation of the child’s body before the inquest began. The High Court is expected to determine the issue before further proceedings resume.
Meanwhile, the Coroner’s Court acknowledged the stay order but noted that witness statements had already been filed by the family’s legal team. The witnesses include the child’s father and medical experts from Nigeria and the United States.
Counsel to the family maintained that the inquest should proceed once procedural issues are resolved. He argued that open judicial inquiry remains essential for establishing facts and ensuring accountability in cases involving the death of a child under medical care.
From a child protection and safeguarding perspective, the adjournment underscores the importance of structured judicial processes in examining child deaths linked to healthcare services. Legal experts note that coroner inquests play a critical role in determining whether medical institutions met their duty of care and complied with standards protecting a child’s right to life and survival.
The matter continues to attract attention as stakeholders await the High Court’s decision on jurisdiction, which will determine the next phase of the inquiry.
