Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege, have taken formal legal action against Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Lagos, alleging medical negligence and professional impropriety in connection with the tragic death of their 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi Adichie-Esege.
On January 10, 2026, a detailed legal notice was served to Euracare Hospital through solicitors from the law firm Pinheiro LP, led by Professor Kemi Pinheiro, SAN. The notice accuses the hospital, including an attending anaesthesiologist and other medical staff of breaching the duty of care owed to the couple’s son, who died in the early hours of January 7, 2026 after a series of medical procedures.
According to the filing, Nkanu was referred to Euracare on January 6, 2026 from Atlantis Pediatric Hospital for a sequence of diagnostic and preparatory procedures ahead of an emergency medical evacuation to a specialist team in the United States.
Allegations of Negligence
The legal notice outlines multiple alleged lapses in care, including:
- Improper sedation practices, including concerns about propofol dosing in a critically ill toddler.
- Inadequate monitoring during and after sedation.
- Lack of supplemental oxygen and continuous physiological monitoring while the child was being moved between hospital departments.
- Insufficient medical supervision during transfers.
- Delayed recognition and response to complications.
- Apparent shortages of basic emergency/resuscitation equipment and inadequate adherence to paediatric safety protocols.
These allegations together form the basis of a claim that the hospital and its medical personnel failed to meet accepted standards of care, ultimately contributing to the child’s death.
The legal notice gives Euracare seven days to provide certified copies of all medical records related to Nkanu’s care.
The notice also formally instructs the hospital to preserve all physical and electronic evidence, warning that any destruction, tampering, or alteration could be treated as obstruction of justice and invite further legal consequences.
Euracare Hospital has expressed sympathy for the family’s loss but has denied wrongdoing, stating that the child was critically ill upon arrival and that care provided complied with accepted clinical standards. The hospital also announced an internal investigation into the incident.
In response to public concern, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered an independent state-level probe into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. The Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) and other regulatory bodies are expected to review the case, including the hospital’s clinical protocols and patient-safety practices.
Local reports also suggest that the anaesthesiologist involved has been suspended pending ongoing investigations.