A Lagos State High Court has struck out Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital’s application to stop the coroner’s inquest into the death of Nkanu Esege, son of novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Ivara Esege.
Justice Aishat Opesanwo ruled on Monday that the hospital’s objections rested on a misunderstanding of the purpose of a coroner’s inquiry. She rejected its argument that the cremation of the child’s body deprived the coroner of authority to proceed.
The ruling follows the earlier hearing at which the court reserved its decision until October 12. NaijaTrend reported that stage of the case here.
Eurapharma Care Services Nigeria Limited, which operates Euracare, had also challenged the order in which statements and evidence would be received. It argued that requiring medical personnel to present evidence first could breach its right to a fair hearing.
According to Punch, the judge held that the hospital had not disproved the conditions giving the coroner authority under Section 15 of the Lagos State Coroners System Law, 2007. She said the law did not require the body to remain in the coroner’s district when the inquest took place.
Opesanwo also rejected the argument that an inquiry without a body for post-mortem examination would necessarily produce speculative conclusions. She noted that the inquest had not formally begun and that concerns about its eventual outcome were premature.
Nkanu died on January 7, 2026, following medical treatment in Lagos. Channels Television reported that his parents alleged medical negligence, while Euracare maintained that he arrived critically ill and received care consistent with standard medical protocols.
The judge said an inquest was a fact-finding inquiry to establish who died, how, when and where, rather than a trial to determine blame or punish a party. She also held that the coroner could decide the sequence of evidence and that disagreement with that sequence did not itself establish a denial of fair hearing.
With the hospital’s application struck out, the coroner’s inquiry can proceed. The ruling does not determine responsibility for the child’s death.
Sources: Punch, Channels Television
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