Proceedings in the inquest into the death of 21-month-old Master Nkanu Adichie-Esege have been abruptly suspended following a standoff between the Lagos State Attorney General’s office and the coroner’s court.
At the JIC Taylor Courthouse on Lagos Island, presiding coroner, Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji, announced the halt in proceedings, stating that further direction would be sought from the Chief Coroner, Justice Mojisola Dada.
The decision followed a tense exchange triggered by a last-minute request from the Attorney General’s office to suspend the day’s hearing. Counsel representing the office, Adebola Araba, informed the court that the Attorney General had scheduled a meeting with all parties for May 12, 2026, and urged that proceedings be adjourned until after the meeting.
The request immediately drew objections from lawyers involved in the case, who questioned both the timing and manner of communication.
Counsel to the child’s parents, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Adeyinka Aderemi, told the court that earlier correspondence indicated the meeting would hold later the same day, after the hearing. He said the sudden rescheduling disrupted plans, especially as the child’s parents were expected to travel soon.
Magistrate Adetunji also raised concerns over the Attorney General’s office communicating directly with counsel without formally notifying the court, describing the approach as irregular.
Other lawyers, including those representing Atlantis Paediatric Hospital and Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, confirmed receiving multiple letters with conflicting details about the meeting, further deepening the confusion.
Aderemi strongly criticised the development, accusing the Attorney General’s office of sidelining the interests of the bereaved family and disrupting the judicial process.
Following arguments from all parties, the coroner ruled to suspend the inquest, effectively pausing proceedings in a case that has attracted significant public attention.
The inquest, which began on February 25, 2026, is investigating the circumstances surrounding the toddler’s death after medical treatment in Lagos.
According to details presented in court, the child was initially admitted to Atlantis Paediatric Hospital with what was described as a worsening illness. As his condition deteriorated, he was referred to Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital for urgent procedures ahead of a planned transfer to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States.
He, however, died following the procedures, prompting calls for a full investigation.
With proceedings now on hold, uncertainty surrounds when the inquest will resume, as tensions between the court and the Attorney General’s office add a new layer of complexity to an already sensitive case.
