The Lagos State High Court has reserved ruling in a legal dispute over whether a coroner’s inquest into the death of Master Nkanu Adichie-Esege should proceed, following arguments by multiple parties involved in the case.
The matter arose from an application filed by Eurapharma Care Services Nigeria Limited seeking to stop the ongoing inquest into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
At the hearing before Justice A.O. Opesanwo in Ikoyi, counsel to the deceased child’s parents, Dr Ivara Esege and renowned author Chimamanda Adichie, urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that it was filed prematurely.
Lead counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, contended that the coroner had not reached any substantive decision capable of being reviewed or overturned by the High Court. According to him, the proceedings being challenged remain preliminary, with no witnesses called and no evidence formally taken.
Eurapharma had argued that the inquest should not continue following the cremation of the deceased’s remains, maintaining that the absence of the body made the exercise impracticable.
However, counsel opposing the application relied on provisions of the Lagos State Coroners’ System Law, arguing that an inquest may still proceed even where a body cannot be recovered or has been destroyed.
The Lagos State Attorney-General, Lawal Pedro, SAN, also urged the court to strike out the suit, while lawyers representing Atlantis Paediatric Hospital supported the position that the coroner acted within the law.
On its part, Eurapharma’s counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, SAN, argued that the hospital should not be compelled to open its defence before evidence from the complainant had been presented.
After listening to submissions from all parties, Justice Opesanwo adjourned the matter and fixed October 12, 2026, for ruling.
