“File Witness Statements Before May 5” — Coroner Orders Parties, Urges Cooperation In Adichie Son’s Death Inquest

A Lagos State Coroner’s Court investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the son of celebrated Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie has ordered parties in the inquest to file their witness statements on oath before the next proceedings on May 5.

The Coroner, Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji, who is sitting at the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere, also urged all parties to cooperate with the inquest and file all necessary processes on time, without waiting for the other party or pushing blame.

She also stated that the inquest was inquisitorial, not adversarial, and that its objective is to enable the grieving family to heal and to avert another occurrence.

The 21-month-old Master Nkanu Nnamdi Esege allegedly died on January 7, 2026, during medical procedures at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos.

But the parents, Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, accused the hospital of “prima facie breaches of the duty of care” in their son’s treatment.

The Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital denied the allegations of medical negligence, describing the claim as inaccurate and unfounded.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, ‎Magistrate Adetunji observed that none of the counsel had filed and exchanged their witnesses’ statements on oath, as earlier directed.
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‎Euracare’s new lead counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), who was appearing before the coroner for the first time, stated that no order was given at the previous date regarding who should submit the witnesses’ statements first.

He also told the court that he has an interlocutory application, which is still to be filed, requesting a postmortem examination of the deceased’s body to determine the cause of death, as well as asking for the release of the 22-month-old’s medical records by his parents, Dr Ivara Esege and Chimamanda Adichie-Esege.

The senior lawyer argued that these requests ought to be granted before Euracare opens its case, on the grounds of a fair hearing.
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‎But, the coroner point out that the request for autopsy had been addressed at the last sitting, in which the lead counsel representing the Esege family, Prof. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) had pointed out that Section 21(1) of the Coroner Systems Law, permits an inquest to proceed, even without an autopsy done, a position which the coroner and the other parties had earlier accepted.
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‎Magistrate Adetunji also noted that Euracare’s new legal team has already requested and received the records of earlier proceedings. The senior counsel can also seek additional information through subpoenas or other means without delaying the case.

She mentioned that Euracare was the first to request an inquest into the matter and expressed its willingness to participate in all proceedings to uncover the truth fully.

Meanwhile, Prof. Pinheiro and the lead counsel for Atlantis Hospital, Adeniyi Kazeem (SAN), who is also new to the case, stated that their witnesses’ statements are prepared and will be filed after the hearing.