The controversy over the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, son of acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr. Ivara Esege, has deepened after the child’s family publicly challenged the account of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital and secured government intervention in the matter.
The toddler tragically died on January 7, 2026, at the Lagos hospital following a series of diagnostic procedures ahead of plans for medical evacuation abroad. While Euracare has maintained that it provided care in line with established clinical protocols, the family — through legal representatives and senior medical professionals — has rejected that narrative and called for accountability.
In a detailed rebuttal to Euracare’s January 10 statement, Dr. Anthea Esege Nwandu, the child’s aunt and a physician with extensive clinical experience, accused the hospital of misrepresentation and serious breaches of international care standards. She described the hospital’s claim that the child had been treated at two paediatric centres prior to arrival as inaccurate, asserting he was only at one before transfer.
Dr. Nwandu further challenged Euracare’s assertions that the care provided was consistent with accepted clinical standards, citing alleged failures in continuous oxygen therapy and monitoring, improper handling post-sedation, and questioned whether proper documentation during critical moments was possible under the circumstances she described.
The family’s legal team, led by senior advocate Professor Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, served a formal legal notice dated January 10, 2026, to Euracare, accusing the hospital and attending personnel of breaching their duty of care. The notice outlines concerns over sedation practices, inadequate monitoring, procedural lapses, and alleged failure to disclose risks associated with medications used.
The legal notice demands certified copies of all relevant clinical documentation — including consent forms, anaesthetic logs, ICU records, incident reports, and CCTV footage — within a specified timeframe and warns that destruction or alteration of evidence could attract legal consequences.
In response to public outcry, the Lagos State Government has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the case, describing the loss of a child as a “profound tragedy” and emphasising zero tolerance for medical negligence in healthcare facilities. The Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has reportedly begun an independent review, which may involve collaboration with professional regulatory bodies.
Authorities have indicated that the hospital’s anaesthesiologist involved in the case has been suspended pending the outcome of investigations. This development reflects growing scrutiny from both state officials and medical organisations keen to uphold patient safety protocols.
Euracare, while expressing deep sympathy to the bereaved family, has denied allegations of negligence and maintained that the child was critically ill on arrival and that treatment adhered to internationally accepted standards. The facility has said some public reports contain inaccuracies and has initiated its own internal review.
The case has captured widespread attention, not only due to Adichie’s stature as an internationally acclaimed author but also for spotlighting concerns about healthcare standards in Nigeria’s private and public medical systems. Calls for accountability and improved regulatory oversight have intensified alongside expressions of solidarity with the family from notable figures and the public alike.
