Chimamanda Adichie demands justice over son’s death as Lagos govt launches probe

Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has formally accused Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos of medical negligence and professional misconduct following the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi Esege. The tragedy, which occurred in the early hours of January 7, 2026, has prompted Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to order a full-scale investigation.

In a legal notice dated January 10, 2026, solicitors representing Adichie and her partner, Dr. Ivara Esege, outlined multiple alleged lapses in paediatric care, including improper dosing of anaesthesia, inadequate airway management, insufficient monitoring during sedation, and the absence of basic resuscitative equipment during transfers between hospital departments. The notice also alleged that the hospital failed to obtain proper informed consent, denying the parents critical information about anaesthetic risks.

The legal notice, signed by the law firm of Professor Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, demanded certified copies of all medical records related to Nkanu’s treatment, including admission and procedural notes, consent forms, anaesthetic charts, monitoring logs, ICU records, and internal safety reviews. The hospital was also formally instructed to preserve all evidence—physical and electronic—including CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data, pharmacy records, and internal communications, with a warning that tampering could constitute obstruction of justice.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, speaking through his Special Adviser on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, expressed deep condolences to the family and directed the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) to carry out an independent and transparent probe. The investigation will review clinical protocols, professional conduct, patient safety standards, and the responsibilities of all parties involved. HEFAMAA is collaborating with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to ensure a credible process, and findings will be made public.

Adding to the controversy, Dr. Anthea Esege Nwandu, Nkanu’s aunt and a dual board-certified internal medicine physician, publicly refuted Euracare’s January 10 statement. She accused the hospital of making “significant falsehoods” about the circumstances of her nephew’s death. Nwandu highlighted failures to provide continuous oxygen, monitor vital signs, or accompany the child with appropriate resuscitative equipment during intra-hospital transfers, contradicting the hospital’s claim that international protocols were followed.

“The anaesthesiologist was criminally negligent. No proper protocol was followed,” Nwandu stated. She also clarified that the child had received care only at Atlantis Paediatric Hospital before being transferred to Euracare for specialised procedures, refuting the hospital’s claims of multiple prior paediatric interventions.

The legal notice and the Lagos government’s probe signal the start of a high-profile investigation into the circumstances surrounding Nkanu Nnamdi Esege’s death, with both the family and authorities emphasizing accountability and justice.