The Lagos State Coroner Court has opened an inquest into the death of Nkanu Esege, the 21‑month‑old son of author Chimamanda Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege.
The preliminary session was held on Wednesday, before Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji at the Yaba Magistrate Court in Lagos. The court adjourned proceedings and set April 14 as the date to begin the full inquiry.
At the hearing, Magistrate Adetunji expressed condolences to the family and explained that a coroner’s inquest is designed to investigate the circumstances of a death and to identify what happened.
Master Nkanu died on January 7, after receiving medical care in Lagos. He was initially admitted to Atlantis Pediatric Hospital for a worsening but reportedly mild illness. He was then referred to Euracare Multispecialist Hospital for pre‑flight procedures ahead of a planned medical evacuation abroad.
In a legal notice dated January 10, the family’s lawyers said that the child was given intravenous sedation using propofol and developed sudden complications while being moved within the hospital. The notice claims there were failures in monitoring and in the handling of the sedation. The family has requested that key evidence be preserved, including CCTV footage, medical records, and monitoring data from the hospital.
In a separate statement, Adichie and her husband alleged that an anaesthesiologist and other medical staff at the facility breached their duty of care. They specifically raised concerns about possible overdose of sedative drugs and the lack of continuous monitoring.
The Lagos State Government, led by Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu, had earlier ordered a comprehensive and independent investigation into the circumstances of Nkanu’s death. The Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) was directed to begin inquiries. The government said it would not tolerate medical negligence in any health facility in the state.
Euracare Hospital has responded by saying some reports circulating in the media are inaccurate. The hospital described Nkanu as “critically ill” when referred and said that care was provided according to clinical protocols and accepted medical standards.
The case has drawn public attention to issues of medical standards and patient safety in Nigeria’s healthcare system, prompting wider discussions about clinical accountability and the need for improved practices.
Chimamanda Adichie is a Nigerian writer known internationally for her novels and essays. She has won numerous literary awards and is among Nigeria’s most recognised contemporary authors. She and Dr Ivara Esege had three children.
