In a move that reignites public scrutiny over medical standards in Nigeria’s private healthcare sector, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has suspended three medical practitioners pending disciplinary proceedings following the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Adichie-Esege, the son of award-winning author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege.
The suspension follows the conclusion of an investigative panel’s 25th session, held in Abuja on February 17-18, 2026, where a prima facie case of medical negligence and professional misconduct was established in the treatment and care of the toddler.
The MDCN panel determined that evidence against three senior doctors involved in Nkanu’s care warranted immediate regulatory action. They have been barred from practising medicine in the country pending full hearings before the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. They are:
Dr. Tunde Majekodunmi – Medical Director, Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital
Dr. Titus Ogundare – Anaesthesiologist, Euracare
Dr. Atinuke Uwajeh – Chief Medical Officer, Atlantis Pediatric Hospital
The panel’s secretary, Dr. Enejo Abdu, noted that there was also sufficient evidence of professional misconduct against ten other doctors affiliated with Atlantis Hospital during the child’s treatment, referring their matters for formal adjudication. Eight other practitioners were cleared after review of written responses and sworn oral testimonies.
Sequence of Events Leading to Investigation
Nkanu, one of a set of twins born in March 2024, fell ill in early January 2026 and was initially admitted at Atlantis Pediatric Hospital in Lagos. As plans were underway to transfer him to a specialized facility in the United States – Johns Hopkins Hospital – for advanced care, he was referred to Euracare on January 6 to undergo a series of pre-flight diagnostic and preparatory procedures, including an echocardiogram, MRI scan, lumbar puncture, and the insertion of a central line.
Tragically, the toddler died on January 7 following complications during or shortly after these procedures. Shortly afterward, his mother served a legal notice on the hospital, alleging medical negligence, breaches in duty of care, and professional misconduct. The notice demanded the preservation and release of all medical records, monitoring data, and other evidence related to his treatment.
The MDCN panel’s findings highlight major systemic questions about patient monitoring protocols, sedation practices in pediatric care, and inter-facility coordination of critical care patients – issues that have sparked nationwide debate about patient safety and accountability in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Officials emphasise that the Council’s findings are preliminary and not a final determination of guilt, noting that each suspended doctor and those referred will receive an opportunity to defend themselves at the disciplinary tribunal.
In parallel, a coroner’s inquest into Nkanu’s death is scheduled to begin on April 14, 2026, at a Lagos court, where additional evidence will be examined in a formal judicial setting.
The high-profile nature of the case – centering on one of Nigeria’s most internationally recognised authors – has intensified public focus on medical ethics, healthcare quality, and regulatory enforcement. Civil society actors, patient advocacy groups, and legal experts have called for strengthened oversight and transparent adjudication to restore confidence in private and public health institutions.
Euracare Hospital has expressed condolences over the toddler’s death but denies allegations of negligence, stating that all care provided was consistent with accepted medical practices given the child’s condition on admission.
