Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie and her husband, Ivara Esege, have urged the Lagos State High Court to dismiss a suit filed by Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital seeking to stop the coroner’s inquest into the death of their son, Nkanu Adichie-Esege.

Counsel to the couple, Kemi Pinheiro, made the submission before the court on Monday, describing the hospital’s suit as premature.

Pinheiro argued that the coroner had not reached any decision or made any finding capable of being reviewed or set aside by the high court.

Nkanu, one of Adichie’s twins, died on January 7, 2026, following complications during a series of preparatory medical procedures at Euracare Hospital.

The coroner’s inquest into the 21-month-old’s death commenced in February at the Igbosere Magisterial District in Yaba to establish the circumstances surrounding his death.

During the proceedings, it emerged that Nkanu’s body had been cremated, raising questions about the availability of physical evidence for the investigation.

Euracare subsequently approached the Lagos State High Court, seeking a judicial review of the coroner’s assumption of jurisdiction and the process through which the inquest was commenced, particularly as the child’s body had already been cremated.

In June, the high court ordered a temporary suspension of the inquest pending the determination of the judicial review application.

The coroner subsequently adjourned the proceedings until October in compliance with the court order.

But Pinheiro told the court that the inquest was still at a preliminary stage, stressing that no witness had testified and no evidence had been formally presented before the coroner.

He argued that the hospital’s judicial review application amounted to an attempt to pre-empt a decision that the coroner was yet to make.

The senior lawyer also cited Section 21 of the Lagos State Coroners’ System Law, which, he said, permits an inquest to proceed where a body has been destroyed or cannot be recovered.

He maintained that the cremation of Nkanu’s remains did not deprive the coroner of jurisdiction to investigate the circumstances of his death.

Lagos State Attorney-General, Lawal Pedro, also urged the court to dismiss the hospital’s suit.

However, Taiwo Osipitan, counsel to Euracare, argued that the hospital should not be compelled to present its evidence first when the complainants, who had alleged medical incompetence, had yet to present theirs.

After hearing arguments from all parties, Justice Aisat Opesanwo reserved ruling on the application until October 12, 2026.