The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikoyi has fixed October 12, 2026, to rule on an application by operators of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital seeking to halt the Nkanu death inquest.
The application was filed by Eurapharma Care Services, operators of the hospital where Nkanu Adichie-Esege, son of Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Ivara Esege, died.
Justice Aishat Opesanwo reserved the date after hearing arguments on the hospital’s request for a judicial review of proceedings relating to the coroner’s inquest.
Counsel to Adichie and Esege, Kemi Pinheiro, urged the court to dismiss the hospital’s suit.
Pinheiro described the application as premature, arguing that the coroner had yet to make any finding that could be challenged before the High Court.
The lawyer maintained that there was therefore no decision from the coroner requiring the intervention sought by the hospital.
Eurapharma is seeking an order of certiorari to quash decisions already made in connection with the inquest.
It is also asking for an order of prohibition restraining the coroner, Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji, from continuing with the proceedings.
The hospital’s application centres on two major issues concerning the conduct of the inquest.
One is whether the hospital and its personnel can be required to begin leading evidence before Nkanu’s family has presented its case.
The second concerns whether the coroner can lawfully continue the proceedings following the cremation of Nkanu’s remains.
The hospital is seeking judicial intervention over these issues as the inquest proceeds.
The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, also urged the court to dismiss the hospital’s application.
Pedro argued that the coroner has statutory discretion to proceed with an inquest even where the deceased’s body has been destroyed or is unavailable.
He relied on Section 21 of the Lagos State Coroners System Law, which he said empowers a coroner to conduct an inquest despite the destruction or unavailability of the deceased’s remains.
The Attorney-General also argued that the hospital’s application for judicial review was premature.
According to him, the coroner had not taken any evidence or testimony when the application was filed.
Nkanu died on January 7, 2026, at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos, where he had been receiving medical treatment.
The circumstances surrounding his death subsequently became the subject of a coroner’s inquest.
The Lagos High Court will now determine whether the proceedings should continue, with Justice Opesanwo scheduled to deliver her ruling on October 12, 2026.
