CORONER SUSPENDS INQUEST INTO DEATH OF CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE’S SON AMID LEGAL DISPUTE AND AG’S DIRECTIVE

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By:Tajudeen Aminat

The Coroner’s Court sitting at the Igbosere Magistrate Court on Lagos Island on Tuesday halted proceedings in the inquest into the death of 21-month-old Master Nkanu Adichie-Esege, the son of author Chimamanda Adichie and Dr. Ivara Esege, pending further instructions from the Chief Coroner, Justice Mojisola Dada.

Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji adjourned the matter following a directive from the Lagos State Attorney General, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), which instructed a suspension of the day’s proceedings.

Expressing displeasure, the magistrate criticized the Attorney General’s action, stating that the court was not under the Ministry of Justice and that such directives were inappropriate under the principle of separation of powers.

She said she would escalate the issue to the Chief Coroner for further guidance and declined to fix a new date for the hearing until instructions are received.

Earlier, counsel from the Attorney General’s office, Adebola Araba, informed the court that a meeting involving the AG and all parties in the case had been scheduled for May 12, 2026, and requested that the hearing be paused until after the meeting.

However, counsel to the deceased child’s parents, Adeyinka Aderemi (SAN), told the court that although a letter dated April 23, 2026, had initially set the meeting for 2pm on the day of proceedings, it was later rescheduled to May 12, 2026, late the previous night. He noted that the parents had already made arrangements to attend court, with one of them set to leave the country soon.

Magistrate Adetunji questioned why such changes were communicated without notifying the court. Araba responded that he was only instructed to relay the information and was unaware of earlier correspondence.

Other counsel in the matter, including Abiodun Layanu (SAN) representing Atlantis, and Prof. Taiwo Osiptan (SAN) for Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, confirmed receiving official notices regarding the rescheduled meeting and agreed to comply with the court’s directive.

Aderemi further expressed concern that the sudden changes had disrupted the proceedings and the participation of the deceased child’s parents, adding that the father was present in court and had intended to give testimony.

He also criticized the delay, stating that a key opportunity to hear evidence had been lost.

The inquest, which began on February 25, 2026, is examining the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.

Master Nkanu was initially admitted to Atlantis Paediatric Hospital in Lagos on January 6, 2026, for a worsening illness and later referred to Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital for urgent diagnostic procedures, including an MRI scan, lumbar puncture, and central line insertion, ahead of a planned transfer to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States.

He died in the early hours of January 7, 2026, shortly after the procedures were carried out.