Court pauses investigation into Nkanu Adichie-Esege’s death

A High Court in Lagos has put a stop to the ongoing coroner’s inquest into the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi Esege. This pause will last until there is a judicial review of how the inquest started and how it has been handled.

The main issue in this case is whether the coroner’s court had the right to move forward with its investigation. This is important given the circumstances surrounding Nkanu’s death.

One key point to look at during the judicial review is if the coroner’s court properly took on the case. This is especially relevant since Nkanu’s body was cremated before the inquest began. There are also questions about the lack of a post-mortem examination. Some people believe this is a key step in figuring out the cause of death in such cases.

Nkanu Adichie-Esege, the son of famous writer Chimamanda Adichie and Dr. Ivara Esege, died in January 2026. His death led to calls for an official investigation, which resulted in the coroner’s inquest opening at the Yaba Magistrate Court in February 2026.

Since then, the inquest has faced several delays and disagreements over procedures. The first meeting was on 25 February, followed by another on 14 April, and a brief session on 5 May. The process was then put on hold for discussions involving the Lagos State Attorney-General and the lawyers representing the parties involved.

When allowing the review, the Lagos High Court said that the application raised important issues about procedure and fairness. These are issues that need careful consideration. The court also ordered that all activities in the coroner’s court stay on hold until the main application is heard and decided.

The applicant has two weeks to submit the main application. The case is set to go back to court on 8 June 2026.

For now, the coroner’s inquest is on hold. The High Court is looking into whether the steps taken so far follow the law. What happens in the judicial review could affect the future of this inquest and help clarify how similar cases should be handled in the future.