Proceedings at the Coroner’s Court sitting at the Igbosere Magistrates’ Court on Lagos Island were on Tuesday abruptly suspended in the ongoing inquest into the death of 21-month-old Master Nkanu Adichie-Esege, son of renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr Ivara Esege.
The suspension followed a request linked to the office of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, but the move immediately sparked tension in court, with the presiding Coroner Magistrate, Atinuke Adetunji, openly criticising the manner in which the request was handled.
Adetunji halted further hearing in the matter and said she would await directives from the Chief Coroner, Justice Mojisola Dada, before taking any further steps. She also declined to fix a new date for the continuation of the inquest.
In a brief but strong ruling, the magistrate faulted the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro, for allegedly taking steps to halt proceedings without formally informing the court.
“I find it very appalling that the Attorney-General of Lagos State would take such steps without informing the court,” she said.
She stressed that under the principle of separation of powers, the court operates independently and cannot be directed by the executive arm of government.
“The court is not under the Ministry of Justice. The Attorney-General does not have the power to direct the court,” she added.
The development came after a counsel from the Attorney-General’s office, Adebola Araba, informed the court that he had been instructed to request a suspension of proceedings pending a meeting between the Attorney-General and all lawyers involved in the case.
According to Araba, the meeting has been scheduled for May 12, 2026, and is expected to bring together all parties to discuss the way forward in the inquest.
“We urge the court to suspend today’s proceedings and fix a hearing date after the meeting,” he told the court.
However, the request did not go down well with lawyers representing other parties, particularly counsel to the deceased child’s parents, Adeyinka Aderemi (SAN).
Aderemi told the court that his clients had earlier received a letter dated April 23, 2026, inviting them to a meeting scheduled for the same day as the hearing. He said it was only late Monday night that they were informed that the meeting had been postponed to May 12.
“We believed today’s hearing would proceed and that we would attend the meeting afterwards,” he said.
He also noted that the parents of the deceased child were present in court and had made arrangements to attend the proceedings, adding that they would not be available after the week.
“The parents are here in court, and they will not be around after Friday,” Aderemi said.
He further argued that the handling of the matter did not reflect consideration for the feelings and interests of the bereaved family.
“If the Attorney-General is sincere, he should be up and doing. If there is restorative justice, he should have called the meeting before now,” he said.
According to him, the letter effectively disrupted the day’s hearing, even though preparations had already been made for key testimonies.
“The father of the deceased is in court and has already sworn his statement on oath. I had expected the court to hear it today,” he added.
Other lawyers in the matter confirmed receiving similar communications from the Attorney-General’s office. Counsel for Atlantis Paediatric Hospital, Abiodun Layonu (SAN), and counsel for Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Prof Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), both told the court they had received letters dated April 23 and May 4, informing them of the rescheduled meeting.
They, however, indicated their willingness to comply with whatever decision the court takes.
The inquest, which began on February 25, 2026, is aimed at determining the circumstances surrounding the death of the young child.
Master Nkanu was first admitted to Atlantis Paediatric Hospital in Lagos for what was described as a worsening but initially mild illness. He was later referred to Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital on January 6, 2026, for further medical procedures.
According to available information, the referral was made as part of preparations to transfer the child abroad for advanced treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States.
At Euracare, the child was scheduled to undergo several diagnostic procedures, including an MRI scan, lumbar puncture, and the insertion of a central line.
However, he died in the early hours of January 7, 2026, shortly after the procedures were carried out.
The case has since attracted public attention, partly due to the prominence of the child’s mother, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who is widely known both in Nigeria and internationally for her literary works.
The incident has also raised broader concerns about the quality of healthcare services, emergency response, and medical procedures in private hospitals across Nigeria.
Coroner’s inquests are judicial investigations conducted to determine the cause and circumstances of sudden or unexplained deaths. In Lagos State, such inquests are handled by magistrates acting as coroners, and their findings can lead to recommendations or further legal action.
Following the court’s decision to suspend proceedings, the Attorney-General, Lawal Pedro, issued a statement denying that his office directed the court to halt the inquest.
He described such claims as false and said the decision to suspend proceedings rests solely with the coroner.
“At no time did the Office of the Attorney-General direct, request or intend that the coroner should suspend proceedings,” he said.
Pedro explained that the planned meeting with lawyers was part of routine efforts to improve coordination and ensure that the inquest proceeds without unnecessary delays.
According to him, the initiative was informed by recent experiences, including the prolonged inquest into the death of late singer Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
He said such cases have shown the need for a more efficient system to handle coroner’s proceedings in Lagos State.
“The experience from recent inquests has shown the need to promote a more efficient process, as undue delays are neither in the interest of justice nor in the interest of affected families,” Pedro stated.
He maintained that the planned engagement with lawyers was not intended to interfere with the judicial process but to support a smoother and faster resolution.
As the situation stands, the inquest into the death of Master Nkanu Adichie-Esege remains on hold, with the next steps dependent on directives from the Chief Coroner.
For the grieving family and other parties involved, the delay adds another layer of uncertainty to a case that has already drawn national attention.