June 2, 2026
By Olayinka Ajayi
LAGOS — A High Court in Lagos has ordered a temporary halt to the ongoing coroner’s inquest into the death of Chimamanda Adichie’s 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, pending a judicial review of how the inquest was initiated and conducted.
At the heart of the matter is whether the coroner’s court had the legal basis to proceed with its investigation under the circumstances of the case.
One of the key issues likely to be examined during the judicial review is whether the coroner’s court properly assumed jurisdiction, particularly given that late Chimamanda’s son, Nkanu’s body, had already been cremated before the inquest process began. Questions have also been raised about the absence of a post-mortem examination, which some parties argue is an important component of establishing the cause of death in such proceedings.
