Court postpones investigation into Chimamanda Adichie’s son’s death

The Coroner’s Court at Igbosere Magistrate Court in Lagos has postponed the inquest into the death of 21-month-old Master Nkanu Adichie-Esege. He is the son of famous author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr. Ivara Esege. The new date for the hearing is October 8, 2026.

Coroner Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji set this date on Wednesday. This came after Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, the lawyer for Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, told the court about a stay of proceedings ordered by the Lagos State High Court. The stay is pending the outcome of a judicial review application filed by the hospital.

The inquest was meant to start hearing before this new development. Osipitan explained that Euracare went to the High Court to question the Coroner’s Court's authority. They argued that the child's body had allegedly been cremated before the inquest began.

He said the judicial review is to find out if the Coroner’s Court can legally hold an inquest without the deceased’s body. "The High Court granted leave for judicial review and also ordered that pending the determination of the substantive suit, proceedings before this Coroner’s Court should be stayed," Osipitan said.

He noted that the High Court has postponed the matter to June 8, 2026. He asked the Coroner’s Court to delay further action to follow the order. Adebola Araba, a lawyer from the Lagos State Attorney-General’s Office, said he had not yet received a copy of the enrolled order. But Osipitan insisted that the Attorney-General’s office had already been served.

Meanwhile, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), who represents the deceased’s family, shared that four witness statements on oath have been filed and served to all involved. The witnesses include Dr. Ivara Esege, the child’s father, medical experts Dr. Chinwe Ego from Arizona, another doctor from Minnesota, and Prof. Adekola from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

While acknowledging the High Court’s order, Pinheiro asserted that the inquest should still go on eventually. "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 told the court.

Pinheiro also asked the coroner to postpone the matter until after the court’s vacation instead of delaying it indefinitely. Efe Ize-Iyamu, the lawyer for Atlantis Pediatric Hospital, confirmed that his client had received the High Court order and the originating motion.

He agreed with Pinheiro’s view. He pointed out that while everyone must respect the stay order, responses have already been submitted. In reply, Osipitan stressed that the main issue before the High Court is whether the Coroner’s Court can take charge after the alleged cremation of the child’s body.

Pinheiro countered that inquests can still happen even if a body is missing. He said the family would show this during the proceedings. After listening to all parties, Magistrate Adetunji adjourned the matter until October 8, 2026.