Court pauses investigation into Nkanu Adichie-Esege's death

A High Court in Lagos has ordered a temporary stop to the coroner’s inquest into the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi Esege. This halt is pending a judicial review of how the inquest started and was carried out.

The main issue is whether the coroner’s court had the right to continue its investigation in this case.

One important question for the review is whether the coroner’s court took proper control of the case. This is especially relevant since Nkanu’s body was cremated before the inquest began. There are also concerns about the lack of a post-mortem examination. Some people argue that this is essential to determine the cause of death in such cases.

Nkanu Adichie-Esege, the young son of famous author Chimamanda Adichie and Dr. Ivara Esege, died in January 2026. His death led to calls for an official inquiry, which resulted in the coroner’s inquest opening at the Yaba Magistrate Court in February 2026.

Since the inquest started, it has faced several delays and disagreements over procedures. The inquest first met on 25 February, then reconvened on 14 April, and had a short session on 5 May before it was suspended. This suspension came while discussions were ongoing between the Lagos State Attorney-General and the legal teams involved.

While allowing the review, the Lagos High Court pointed out that the application raised important issues about procedure and fairness. The court also ordered that all proceedings in the coroner’s court stay on hold until the main application is heard and resolved.

The applicant has 14 days to submit the main application, and the case is set to go back to court on 8 June 2026.

For now, the coroner’s inquest is on pause. The High Court is looking into whether the steps taken so far meet legal standards. The result of the judicial review could affect not only this inquest but also how similar cases will be handled in the future.