Euracare hospital has secured a Lagos High Court order suspending the coroner’s inquest into 21-month-old Nkanu Adichie-Esege’s death — even as its medical director and two doctors remain on suspension by Nigeria’s medical council.
By IDEA Television News Desk
The Lagos State High Court has granted an order temporarily suspending the coroner’s inquest into the death of Nkanu Nnamdi Adichie-Esege — the 21-month-old son of acclaimed Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege. The suspension was granted after an ex parte application filed by Eurapharma Care Services Nigeria Limited, operators of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Victoria Island, where Nkanu died on January 7, 2026. Justice A.O. Opesanwo of the Lagos High Court, sitting in Osborne, Ikoyi, granted the order following an application brought by a legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Professor Taiwo Osipitan.
In its application, the hospital argued that the coroner’s court lacked the jurisdiction to continue proceedings because Nkanu’s body had allegedly been cremated before the preliminary hearing stage, leaving nothing available for formal examination. The hospital also challenged a coroner’s directive that required it to open its defence and call witnesses first — even though allegations of medical negligence and professional misconduct had been levelled against it by Adichie and Dr Esege. The High Court granted the hospital leave to challenge several decisions made by the coroner’s court dating back to January 2026.
Timeline of the case
“It is appalling that the Attorney-General would take such steps without informing the court.”
— Coroner Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji, Igbosere Magistrate Court, May 5, 2026
