Lagos AG, Coroner Insist Inquest into Adichie’s Son’s Death Must Continue
The Attorney-General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro (SAN), and the presiding coroner for the Lagos Coroner’s District have urged the Lagos State High Court to dismiss a suit seeking to halt the ongoing inquest into the death of Nkanu Adichie-Esege, son of renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
The respondents described the action as premature, incompetent and an abuse of court process, insisting that the Coroner’s Court is acting within its statutory powers.
The objection is contained in a preliminary application dated June 5, 2026, filed in response to a judicial review suit instituted by Eurapharma Care Services Nigeria Limited, operators of a Victoria Island hospital where the child reportedly died on January 7, 2026.
The hospital had earlier secured an interim order from the High Court sitting in Ikoyi, temporarily staying proceedings in the inquest pending the determination of its substantive application.
In its suit, Eurapharma is seeking orders of certiorari and prohibition to quash decisions taken by the coroner and prevent further proceedings in the inquest.
However, the respondents, comprising the presiding coroner, the Chief Coroner and the Attorney-General of Lagos State, argued that the application lacks merit and fails to establish any legal basis for invoking the supervisory jurisdiction of the High Court through judicial review.
According to their joint written address, the remedy of certiorari is only available where a tribunal or authority acts without jurisdiction or exceeds its legal powers.
They maintained that under the Lagos State Coroners System Law, the coroner possesses exclusive authority to investigate suspicious deaths within the relevant jurisdiction and that the decision to proceed with the inquest falls squarely within those powers.
The respondents further argued that Section 21 of the law empowers a coroner to conduct an inquest even where the body of the deceased is unavailable or has been destroyed. They therefore rejected the hospital’s argument that the alleged cremation of the deceased’s remains deprived the Coroner’s Court of jurisdiction.
They also contended that issues relating to the alleged cremation and the absence of an autopsy report had not been formally presented before the Coroner’s Court, making the judicial review application speculative.
According to them, the hospital is effectively asking the High Court to intervene in matters on which the coroner has yet to make any determination.
The respondents equally dismissed allegations that the coroner’s directive requiring the hospital to call witnesses first amounted to a denial of fair hearing.
Citing judicial authorities, including Gyang v Commissioner of Police and Yusuf v State, they argued that fair hearing is satisfied where parties are given a reasonable opportunity to present their case, adding that no such violation had been demonstrated.
They consequently urged the court to dismiss the application in its entirety and allow the inquest to proceed.
Justice A.O. Opesanwo subsequently adjourned the matter until September 28, 2026, for the hearing of all preliminary objections.
