The Lagos Magistrate Court in Yaba has scheduled an inquest into the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, son of acclaimed Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, for April 14.
Nkanu passed away on January 7 at Euracare Hospital, where his family alleges that he did not receive sufficient oxygen and was given excessive sedation during medical procedures, resulting in cardiac arrest.
The hospital has denied the claims, maintaining that the child was treated according to international standards, while expressing condolences to the family.
According to legal filings, Nkanu was initially admitted to Atlantis Hospital in Lagos for a mild but worsening illness. Plans were underway to transfer him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States for further treatment. Prior to the transfer, Atlantis referred him to Euracare for pre-flight investigations, including an MRI scan and a lumbar puncture.
The upcoming inquest will hear from medical professionals and hospital officials as the coroner investigates the circumstances surrounding Nkanu’s death.
The family’s legal team, representing Adichie and her husband Dr Ivara Esege, previously accused Euracare of breaching its duty of care — an allegation the hospital disputes.
Nkanu, one of twin boys born via surrogate in 2024, was the second child of Adichie, 48, who lives in the United States. The writer, known for internationally acclaimed works including Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah, had her first child, a daughter, in 2016.
The tragedy has sparked conversations about patient safety and accountability in Nigeria’s healthcare system, drawing attention to the standards of care in private hospitals across the country.