Court Allows Inquest into Chimamanda Adichie's Son's Death

The Lagos State High Court in Ikoyi ruled that a coroner's inquest into the death of Nkanu Esege, son of author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, can proceed despite the cremation of his body. Justice Aishat Opesanwo delivered the ruling on Monday, rejecting an application from Eurapharma Care Services Nigeria Limited, operators of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, which sought to stop the inquest.

The hospital argued that the cremation made a post-mortem examination impossible and deprived the coroner of jurisdiction. Nkanu died on January 7, following medical procedures, prompting the inquiry into his death.

Justice Opesanwo stated that conducting an inquest is a statutory obligation when the circumstances of a death meet legal conditions. She clarified that the law does not require the deceased's body to remain in the coroner's district for the inquest to proceed and dismissed the hospital's concerns about fair hearing and the absence of the body rendering the inquiry speculative.

The court upheld the respondents' objections and allowed the inquest to move forward.