The Coroner’s Court sitting at the Igbosere Magistrate Court on Lagos Island has suspended further hearing in the inquest into the death of 21‑month‑old Nkanu Adichie‑Esege, son of acclaimed writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege.

The inquest was put on hold after a lawyer from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice informed the court that the state’s Attorney‑General, Lawal Pedro, had directed that proceedings be paused pending a meeting with all parties. The meeting is expected to involve representatives of the state, the family and other stakeholders.

Coroner Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji openly challenged the directive in court, insisting that the Attorney‑General lacked the authority to halt judicial proceedings. She described the move as an encroachment on judicial independence and a breach of the constitutional principle of separation of powers.

According to her, the court is not subject to administrative control by the Ministry of Justice and must be allowed to conclude its statutory duty of investigating the cause and circumstances of the child’s death. She expressed displeasure that such a directive was issued without prior notice to the court.

Counsel to the bereaved parents, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Adeyinka Aderemi, told the court that the parties had initially been invited to a meeting fixed for the same day as the hearing. However, he said they were only informed late the previous day that the meeting had been rescheduled, even as the family had already prepared to proceed with the inquest.

Aderemi noted that Dr Esege was present in court and ready to testify when the directive to suspend proceedings was announced. The family, he suggested, was eager for a transparent and timely inquiry into the events leading to their son’s death.

The inquest, which opened earlier in the year, is examining the medical decisions and treatment pathway that culminated in Nkanu’s death. The toddler was first taken to Atlantis Paediatric Hospital before being referred to Euracare Multi‑Specialist Hospital for further procedures.

He reportedly died in the early hours of January 7, 2026, after undergoing medical interventions at Euracare, at a time when arrangements were being made to transfer him to Johns Hopkins Hospital abroad for advanced care.

With the coroner now awaiting guidance from the Chief Coroner of Lagos State, Justice Mojisola Dada, the future of the inquest remains uncertain, even as public interest in the case continues to grow.