Nigeria: Chimamanda Adichie, Husband Urge Court to Dismiss Hospital's Suit Against Son's Death Inquest

What the report says

Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie and her husband, Ivara Esege, are asking the Lagos State High Court to throw out a case filed by Eurapharma Care Services Nigeria Limited that seeks to halt a coroner’s inquest into the death of their young son, Nkanu Adichie-Esege. According to Premium Times, which AllAfrica republished, the couple says Eurapharma’s bid is too early because the coroner has not yet issued any ruling that can be reviewed by the court.

The dispute centers on the inquest into the child’s death after treatment at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos. The hospital argues the coroner should not continue because the child’s remains were cremated before the proceedings, and it is also challenging a direction on which side should present evidence first. The family’s lawyer countered that the Lagos coroner law still allows an inquest even when a body cannot be recovered, and said the case is still at an early stage with no witness testimony or final finding.

Lawyers for the Lagos State attorney-general and for Atlantis Paediatric Hospital supported the objections to Eurapharma’s suit. Eurapharma’s counsel opposed them, saying the hospital should not be forced to lead evidence before the parents have presented their allegations. The judge reserved a decision until 12 October. The broader case remains significant because it involves allegations of medical negligence and continues alongside separate regulatory and legal proceedings linked to the child’s death.