The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has opened an investigation into the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi Adichie-Esege at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Lagos, as pressure mounts on the facility following allegations of medical negligence by his mother, renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Speaking in Lagos on Sunday, NMA Lagos Chairman, Dr. Babajide Saheed, said the association would invite all parties involved and examine the circumstances of the child’s death.
“We don’t have all the facts yet. We will investigate, get in touch with the hospital and the bereaved family, and give both parties fair hearing. We cannot make pronouncements until we hear from both sides,” Saheed said.
The child died in the early hours of January 7, 2026, after undergoing multiple diagnostic and preparatory procedures at Euracare ahead of a planned medical evacuation to the United States.
According to a legal notice dated January 10, issued by lawyers representing Adichie and her partner, Dr. Ivara Esege, the child was referred to Euracare from Atlantis Pediatric Hospital on January 6 for tests including an echocardiogram, brain MRI, lumbar puncture and insertion of a PICC line.
The child was sedated with propofol, but during transfer from the MRI suite to the cardiac catheterisation laboratory, he developed sudden complications. He later deteriorated and was pronounced dead hours later.
The family alleges that Euracare’s medical team failed to follow basic paediatric anaesthesia and patient-safety protocols, including continuous oxygen delivery, monitoring and adequate staffing during the transfer.
In a strongly worded legal notice signed by Professor Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, the family accused the hospital, its anaesthesiologist and attending staff of professional negligence.
“The hospital failed to ensure continuous physiological monitoring, adequate airway protection and safe transfer of a critically ill child under deep sedation,” the notice said.
The parents also accused the hospital of failing to properly disclose the risks of propofol, arguing that this invalidated informed consent.
They demanded certified copies of all medical records, including consent forms, drug charts, monitoring logs, nursing notes, incident reports and the identities of every medical professional involved.
They also ordered Euracare to preserve CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data, pharmacy logs and internal communications, warning that destruction of evidence could amount to obstruction of justice.
Following widespread public concern, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu directed the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) to conduct a full investigation.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, the governor described the death as “a profound tragedy” and vowed that any facility found culpable would be sanctioned.
“Lagos State Government places the highest value on human life and maintains zero tolerance for medical negligence or unprofessional conduct,” Ogunyemi said.
She confirmed that HEFAMAA had already visited Euracare and would work with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to ensure a transparent review.
The child’s aunt, Dr. Anthea Esege Nwandu, a U.S.- and Nigeria-based physician, also challenged Euracare’s public statement.
“International standards demand continuous oxygen, monitoring of oxygen levels, pulse and respiration when a child is sedated,” she said. “Did Euracare do this? No.”
She also said the child was transferred without essential emergency equipment, including an ambu-bag, in violation of basic anaesthesia safety rules.
Adichie, in a statement circulated on social media and confirmed by her representatives, accused the anaesthesiologist of being “criminally negligent” and said, “no proper protocol was followed.”
With investigations now underway by the NMA, HEFAMAA and MDCN, and legal action looming, the case has become a major test of medical accountability and patient safety in Nigeria’s private healthcare system.
For the Adichie-Esege family, the demand remains simple: answers, accountability and justice for their son.
