Proceedings into the death of 21-month-old Master Nkanu Adichie-Esege have been put on hold by the coroner sitting at the JIC Taylor Courthouse on Lagos Island.
Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji announced the suspension, stating that further hearings would not continue until directives are received from the Chief Coroner, Justice Mojisola Dada.
Before adjourning the matter, the magistrate raised concerns over the role of the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), accusing his office of disrupting the day’s proceedings. This followed a request communicated to the court by Adebola Araba, a counsel from the Attorney General’s office, asking that the hearing be suspended pending a scheduled meeting with all parties involved.
Araba told the court, “I have been directed to inform the court that a meeting between the AG of Lagos State and all counsel appearing in this matter has been fixed for May 12, 2026.
“We urge the court to suspend the hearing of today and fix another hearing after the meeting with the AG,” Araba said.
Responding, counsel to the deceased’s parents, Adeyinka Aderemi (SAN), confirmed receipt of earlier correspondence from the Attorney General’s office. He explained that a letter dated April 23, 2026, signed by Olamide Ibrahim, had initially scheduled a meeting for 2 pm on the same day as the hearing, before it was later moved.
He said, “I confirm that a letter, dated April 23, 2026, signed by one Olamide Ibrahim from the AG’s office, was served on us. However, the meeting was fixed for today by 2 pm; however, it was last night that it was changed to May 12, 2026, and we believed that the hearing would go on today, after which we would thereafter go for the meeting by 2 pm, especially as the parents are not going to be around because they are leaving by Friday.”
Magistrate Adetunji questioned why the court had not been formally notified of the change, but Araba responded that he was unaware of the earlier communication and had only been instructed to relay the update about the rescheduled meeting.
Other parties in the case also acknowledged receiving multiple letters from the Attorney General’s office. Counsel to Atlantis Paediatric Hospital, Abiodun Layanu (SAN), confirmed receiving two letters dated April 23 and May 4, 2026, while Taiwo Osiptan (SAN), representing Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, also verified receiving similar correspondence indicating the new meeting date.
Despite this, Aderemi criticised the development, arguing that it undermined the proceedings and excluded the interests of the bereaved family.
He said, “The letter has just truncated the hearing of today. The interest of the parents of the deceased is not being carried along. If the AG is sincere, he should be up and doing. If there is restorative justice, he should have called the meeting before now”.
“The father of the deceased is in court today and has sworn to a statement on oath. I thought the court would have heard it today.”
Following submissions from all parties, Magistrate Adetunji ruled that the inquest be suspended pending further direction.
Background
The coroner’s inquest began on February 25, 2026, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
Master Nkanu was first admitted to Atlantis Paediatric Hospital in Lagos for what was described as a worsening but initially mild illness. On January 6, 2026, he was referred to Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital for urgent pre-flight medical procedures, including an MRI, lumbar puncture, and insertion of a central line, as plans were underway to transfer him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States.
The child, however, died in the early hours of January 7, 2026, shortly after undergoing the procedures.