RismadarVoice Reporters
September 29, 2026
The Lagos State High Court has fixed October 12, 2026, to rule on an application by Eurapharma Care Services Nigeria Limited, operators of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, seeking to halt the coroner’s inquest into the death of Nkanu, son of Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie.
Justice Aishat Opesanwo, sitting at Osborne Foreshore, Ikoyi, fixed the date after hearing arguments from the hospital, the Lagos State Government and lawyers representing Nkanu’s family.
Euracare is seeking orders of certiorari to quash decisions already taken in connection with the inquest and prohibition to prevent Coroner Atinuke Adetunji from continuing the proceedings.
The hospital is challenging the coroner’s jurisdiction, arguing that the cremation of Nkanu’s remains has made it impossible to conduct a post-mortem examination necessary to establish the cause of death.
Counsel to Euracare, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, SAN, relied on provisions of the Lagos State Coroners System Law in arguing that the coroner’s jurisdiction was connected to the presence of the deceased’s body within the relevant district.
Osipitan submitted that determining the identity of the deceased, where and how the death occurred and its cause would ordinarily require a post-mortem examination.
He argued that because Nkanu’s remains had been cremated, determining the cause of death without a post-mortem examination could become speculative.
The senior lawyer also challenged the proposed sequence for presenting evidence at the inquest.
According to him, the hospital and its personnel were being required to present their evidence before Nkanu’s family formally presented the allegations against them.
Osipitan maintained that although a coroner’s inquest is generally inquisitorial, allegations of medical negligence against Euracare and its personnel meant that requiring the hospital to call witnesses first could affect its right to a fair hearing.
He also told the court that the Chief Pathologist of Lagos State neither conducted a post-mortem examination on Nkanu nor authorised the cremation.
The hospital consequently asked the court to stop the inquest.
The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, opposed the application and urged the court to dismiss it.
Pedro argued that the Lagos State Coroners System Law gives a coroner discretion to conduct an inquest even when the deceased’s body has been destroyed or is otherwise unavailable.
He also described Euracare’s application for judicial review as premature, arguing that no evidence or testimony had been taken by the coroner when the application was filed.
According to the Attorney-General, the coroner had not taken any step exceeding her jurisdiction that would justify intervention by the High Court.
Counsel to Nkanu’s family, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, similarly opposed the hospital’s application.
Pinheiro argued that there was no reviewable decision before the High Court that would justify the orders sought by Euracare.
He also rejected the argument that cremation deprived the coroner of jurisdiction, maintaining that provisions of the state’s coroners law permit an inquest to proceed even when a body is unavailable for inspection.
Pinheiro described a coroner’s inquest as a fact-finding process rather than a criminal or civil trial, stressing that it does not determine criminal guilt.
Justice Opesanwo subsequently adjourned the case until October 12 for ruling on the hospital’s application.
Nkanu died on January 7, 2026, at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos.
His parents, Chimamanda Adichie and Dr Ivara Esege, have raised allegations concerning possible breaches of the duty of care in the treatment of their son.
Euracare has denied allegations of medical negligence, describing them as inaccurate and unfounded.
