Court Clears Way for Inquest into Chimamanda’s Son’s Death Despite Cremation
Wale Igbintade The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikoyi on Monday cleared the way for a coroner’s inquest into the death of Nkanu Esege, son of renowned Nigerian author,
The Lagos State High Court has ruled in favor of a coroner's inquest into the death of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's son, Nkanu Esege, despite his body having been cremated. Justice Aishat Opesanwo dismissed Eurapharma Care Services Nigeria Limited's arguments that the cremation precluded the inquest from proceeding, stating that the law does not require the deceased's body to remain within the coroner's district.
The court upheld the statutory obligation for an inquest where the circumstances of the death meet prescribed conditions, dismissing the hospital's concerns about conducting an eventual post-mortem examination. The judge emphasized that a coroner's inquest is a fact-finding exercise, not a trial, and dismissed the hospital's fair hearing argument, noting that the coroner has discretion in the sequence of receiving statements and evidence. The inquest is now permitted to proceed.
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