The coroner’s inquest into the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, son of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the renown Nigerian author, has been thrown into uncertainty following revelations that the child was cremated, leaving the court without primary forensic evidence to determine the real cause of death.
The development has sparked public debate, with many Nigerians questioning whether cremation is supported by law, while others argue that it creates a significant evidentiary gap, as an autopsy would have been crucial in establishing the exact cause of death.
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Cremation is the practice of disposing of a deceased person’s body through burning, often carried out as part of funeral rites. Although it is not widely practiced in Nigeria, Lagos State has a legal framework that permits cremation.
Under the law, the cremation of a stillborn child is allowed at the voluntary request of family members, subject to proper medical supervision, documentation, and signed consent.
Nkanu Esege, one of Adichie’s twins, died on January 7, 2026, after complications arising from a series of preparatory medical procedures. Adichie subsequently served the hospital with a legal notice, alleging that medical negligence and professional misconduct contributed to her son’s death.
Atinuke Adetunji, the magistrate presiding over the matter at the Yaba Magistrate Court, fixed April 14, 2026, for the commencement of the inquest after hearing appearances from counsel representing the parties.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kemi Pinheiro appeared for the family, while Adebola Rahman represented the Lagos State Attorney-General. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe stood for Atlantis Hospital, which referred the family to Euracare, while Euracare was also separately represented.
During the preliminary proceedings, Adetunji stated that the inquest was initiated at the request of the Attorney-General, noting that the Lagos State Government, like the family, is affected by the loss.
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“The Lagos State Government is also bereaved, that is why the Attorney-General has taken this step. It is not just the family of the deceased that is affected,” she said.
Following the session, the magistrate directed all parties to file and exchange their witness statements ahead of the next hearing, stressing that the court’s primary objective is to determine the cause of death.
