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

On October 12, 2026, Justice Aishat Opesanwo of the Lagos State High Court in Ikoyi dismissed an application by Eurapharma Care Services Nigeria Limited to stop the coroner’s inquest into the death of Nkanu, son of author Chimamanda Adichie. The judge ruled that the cremation of Nkanu's body did not deprive the coroner of jurisdiction to investigate his death, which occurred on January 7, 2026, at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital.

Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, alleged breaches of duty of care in their son's treatment, which Euracare denied. The hospital challenged the coroner’s proceedings, arguing that the cremation meant a post-mortem could not be conducted and that the order for receiving evidence violated their right to a fair hearing.

Justice Opesanwo stated that the law mandates an inquest under specified conditions, emphasizing that the hospital failed to disprove the circumstances that warranted the coroner's inquiry.