# Court rejects Euracare’s bid to halt inquest into Adichie’s son’s death

> Lagos court dismisses Euracare’s attempt to stop inquest into Chimamanda Adichie’s son’s death.
- Title: Court rejects Euracare’s bid to halt inquest into Adichie’s…
- Summary: Lagos court dismisses Euracare’s attempt to stop inquest into Chimamanda Adichie’s son’s death. Lagos State High Court rejected Euracare Multi-Specialist…
- Keywords: lagos state high court, euracare multi-specialist hospital, chimamanda adichie, nkanu nnamdi, coroner’s inquest, death, medical negligence, lagos state coroner’s system law 2007, news, politics, Court, rejects
- Source: Premium Times Nigeria — https://premiumtimesng.com/news/916492-court-rejects-euracares-bid-to-halt-inquest-into-adichies-sons-death.html
- Author: Friday Omosola
- Published: 2026-10-12T17:46:56+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: lagos state high court, euracare multi-specialist hospital, chimamanda adichie, nkanu nnamdi, coroner’s inquest, death, medical negligence, lagos state coroner’s system law 2007, news, politics
## Court rejects Euracare’s bid
Lagos State High Court dismissed Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital’s attempt to halt an ongoing coroner’s inquest into the death of Nkanu Nnamdi, 21 months old.
## Adichie’s family objected
Ms Adichie and her husband Ivara Esege objected to the hospital’s suit two weeks earlier, asking the court to dismiss it.
## Hospital’s claim
The hospital argued that the coroner had not issued a decision warranting judicial review and that the inquest without the body would produce speculative findings.
## Court’s ruling
Justice Aishat Opesanwo ruled the hospital’s application was based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the coroner’s court’s role and powers.
## Key legal issue
The court identified that Section 15(2) of the Lagos State Coroner’s System Law 2007 requires an inquest into a death in custody at a medical facility.
## Cremation does not stop inquest
The court ruled that cremation of the child’s remains did not prevent the coroner from investigating the death.
## Jurisdiction based on location
The court stated that jurisdiction depends on where the death occurred, not the availability of the body at the time of the inquest.
## Coroner’s purpose
A coroner’s inquest determines who died and the circumstances, time and location of death, without criminal prosecution or civil trial.
## No trial in coroner’s court
Unlike other courts, there is no claimant, prosecution, or defence in a coroner’s court, and no one is on trial.
## Coroner’s discretion
The coroner enjoys full statutory discretion over the sequence of witness statements and evidence in the inquest.
## Inquest proceeds
With the court’s dismissal, the coroner’s inquest into Nkanu’s death is now expected to proceed formally.
## Backstory: Medical claims
Following Nkanu’s death, his parents accused the hospital of medical negligence, alleging an overdose of sedatives and withholding oxygen.
## Hospital’s defense
The hospital rejected the allegations, insisting the child was in critical condition on arrival and received treatment per standard medical protocols.
## Inquest initiated
The Lagos State Government initiated a coroner’s inquest to investigate the circumstances of Nkanu’s death.
## Key takeaway

Lagos State High Court rejected Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital’s bid to halt the inquest into the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi, son of Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie.