Inquest into Adichie’s son’s death suspended by court until October

Proceedings in the coroner’s inquest into the death of Nkanu Adichie-Esege, the 21-month-old son of renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie, have been put on hold until October following an order of the Lagos High Court.

The adjournment was announced on Wednesday by Coroner Atinuke Adetunji of the Igbosere Magisterial District in Yaba, Lagos, after a higher court directed a temporary suspension of the inquiry pending the determination of a judicial review application.

The High Court order followed a suit filed by Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, where the child was treated before his death on January 7, 2026. Nkanu, one of Adichie’s twins, reportedly died after complications arising from a series of preparatory medical procedures.

Following the incident, Adichie accused the hospital of medical negligence and professional misconduct, prompting the commencement of a coroner’s inquest in February to establish the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.

During the inquest, it emerged that the child’s remains had been cremated, raising questions about the availability of key forensic evidence. Euracare subsequently approached the High Court, challenging the coroner’s jurisdiction to conduct the proceedings in the absence of the deceased’s body.

At Wednesday’s sitting, counsel to the hospital, Taiwo Osipitan, informed the coroner that the High Court had granted leave for judicial review proceedings and directed that the leave should operate as a stay of the ongoing inquest until the matter is resolved.

Counsel to the family, Kemi Pinheiro, acknowledged receipt of the court documents and disclosed that the family had already filed four witness statements, including those of the child’s father, Ivara Esege, as well as independent medical experts from Nigeria and the United States.

Pinheiro urged the coroner not to leave the matter open-ended and requested a definite adjournment date. After hearing submissions from both parties, the coroner fixed October 8, 2026, for an update on the status of the High Court proceedings.