Lagos Coroner Fixes April 14 for Inquest into Death of Chimamanda Adichie’s Son
The Coroner’s Court sitting at the Yaba Magistrate Court in Lagos has fixed April 14, 2026, for the commencement of an inquest into the death of 21-month-old Master Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, son of renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr. Ivara Esege.
Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji adjourned the matter to the scheduled date following preliminary proceedings.
Nkanu died on January 7, 2026, after receiving treatment at Atlantis Hospital and undergoing procedures at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital.
The child was first admitted to Atlantis Hospital for what was described as a worsening but initially mild illness. As plans were underway to transfer him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States, Atlantis referred him to Euracare for pre-flight diagnostic procedures, including an MRI scan, lumbar puncture and insertion of a central line. He reportedly died after the procedures.
His parents have alleged medical negligence and professional misconduct in connection with the circumstances surrounding his death.
At the court session, Prof. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) appeared for the family, Adebola Rahman represented the Lagos State Attorney-General, while Prof. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe of Health Ethics and Law Consulting appeared for Atlantis Hospital. Euracare was also represented.
Magistrate Adetunji disclosed that the court received an application from the Chief Coroner of Lagos State after a request by the Attorney-General seeking an inquest. She noted that the Lagos State Government also considers itself bereaved.
“The Lagos State Government is also bereaved; that is why the Attorney-General has taken this step. It is not just the family of the deceased that is affected,” she said.
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The magistrate explained that the preliminary session was to determine whether a formal inquest would proceed. She directed all parties to file their witness statements before the next adjourned date and emphasised that the court’s primary objective is to determine the cause of death.
She added that an autopsy is generally the starting point in every inquest to provide a professional medical report.
Pinheiro urged the court to commence the hearing, stating that the family believes the child’s death was unnatural and occurred during medical intervention. He said the family would present evidence alleging gross medical negligence, possible overdose, wrongful prescription, improper administration of propofol and wrongful diagnosis.
According to him, the family plans to call five independent medical experts, including an anaesthesiologist, a paediatric anaesthesia specialist, a radiologist, an intensivist and the child’s father, who is also a medical doctor.
He further urged the court to direct Euracare to preserve all physical and electronic evidence from January 6, 2026, including CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data, pharmacy records, emergency equipment logs, internal communications and morbidity and mortality review documents.
While Pinheiro proposed that Euracare should open its defence, followed by the family and then Atlantis Hospital, the magistrate ruled that Euracare would proceed first, followed by the family and then Atlantis Hospital.
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Earlier, Onyemelukwe told the court that Atlantis would present its account of events, adding that she only became aware of the court appearance after receiving a letter on Tuesday.
Rahman, representing the Attorney-General, said the state government applied for an inquest following news of the child’s death and urged the court to commence proceedings.
In a legal notice dated January 10, 2026, issued by Pinheiro’s law firm, Adichie and her husband accused Euracare, its anaesthesiologist and other attending medical personnel of breaching the duty of care owed to their son.
The notice stated that the child, born on March 25, 2024, was referred to Euracare on January 6, 2026, for diagnostic and preparatory procedures ahead of an emergency medical evacuation to the United States, where a specialist team was reportedly on standby.
The procedures allegedly included an echocardiogram, brain MRI, insertion of a peripherally inserted central catheter, lumbar puncture and intravenous sedation with propofol.
The parents further raised concerns over alleged cumulative dosing of propofol in a critically ill child, inadequate airway protection during deep sedation, failure to ensure continuous monitoring, transfer without supplemental oxygen, insufficient accompanying medical personnel, alleged unavailability of basic resuscitation equipment, delayed recognition and management of distress, and failure to comply with established paediatric anaesthesia and patient-transfer safety standards.
The court adjourned the matter to April 14, 2026, for the commencement of the inquest.
