Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie and her husband, Ivara Esege, have asked the Lagos high court to throw out a suit filed by Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, bidding to stop the coroner’s inquest into the death of their son, Nkanu Adichie-Esege.
Counsel for Adichie and Esege, Kemi Pinheiro, informed the court on Monday that the suit filed by the hospital was “premature”.
Pinheiro stated that the coroner is yet to make any finding that could be nullified by the Lagos high court.
JESNews reports that Nkanu, one of Adichie’s twins, died on January 7, 2026, after complications during a series of preparatory medical procedures at Euracare Hospital
In February, the coroner sitting at the Igbosere magisterial district in Yaba, started proceedings to investigate and determine the circumstances surrounding the death of Adichie’s
Our correspondent reports that during the proceedings, it surfaced that the child had been cremated, a development that threw up questions about the availability of the primary forensic evidence.
The hospital subsequently went to the Lagos high court to seek a judicial review of whether the coroner’s court properly assumed jurisdiction, particularly considering that the child’s body had already been cremated before the inquest started.
In June, the Lagos high court ordered a temporary halt to the inquest of the coroner into the death of 21-month-old Nkanu, pending a judicial review of how the inquest was initiated and conducted
Later, the coroner adjourned the inquest proceedings to October following an order of the Lagos high court.
During the court proceedings, Pinheiro stated that the coroner’s inquest was still at the preliminary stages and that no witness and evidence had been tendered before the coroner.
Counsel for the author argued that the judicial review filed by the hospital could not be used to pre-empt a decision which the coroner had not yet made.
Pinheiro argued that section 21 of the Lagos State Coroners’ System Law stipulates that an inquest can hold when a body has been destroyed or cannot be recovered.
The senior lawyer said the absence of the body does not cancel the coroner’s jurisdiction to conduct an inquest.
Attorney-general of Lagos state, Lawal Pedro also asked the court to dismiss the hospital’s suit.
Counsel for Euracare, Taiwo Osipitan said the hospital should not be compelled to present its evidence first when the complainant, who had alleged medical incompetence, had not yet given its evidence.
After hearing the parties, trial judge, Aisat Opesanwo reserved ruling until October 12, 2026.
