Court Fixes April 14 For Inquest Into Death Of Chimamanda’s Son

The Coroner’s Court sitting at the Yaba Magistrate Court 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 Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Dr Ivara Esege.

Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji set the date on Wednesday when the matter came up in court.

Nkanu died on January 7, 2026, after receiving treatment at Atlantis Hospital and undergoing medical procedures at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos. He had initially been admitted to Atlantis Hospital for what was described as a worsening, though initially mild, illness.

While plans were underway to transfer him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States for further care, Atlantis reportedly referred him to Euracare for pre-flight diagnostic procedures, including an MRI, lumbar puncture and insertion of a central line. The child, however, died following the procedures.

His parents have since alleged medical negligence and professional misconduct in connection with his death.

At the court session, Professor Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) announced his appearance for the family, while Adebola Rahman represented the Attorney-General of Lagos State. Prof. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe of Health Ethics and Law Consulting appeared for Atlantis Hospital, and Euracare was also represented.

During a preliminary meeting with counsels, Magistrate Adetunji disclosed that the court received an application from the Chief Coroner of Lagos State after a request by the Attorney-General that an inquest be conducted.

She noted that the Lagos State Government also viewed itself as affected by the incident.

“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.

The magistrate explained that the purpose of the preliminary sitting was to determine whether a formal inquest should proceed. She directed all parties to file their witness statements ahead of the next adjourned date and urged caution in handling the matter, stressing that the objective of the court was to ascertain the cause of the incident.

Adetunji further emphasised the importance of an autopsy in coroner proceedings.

“For every inquest, the starting point is that there must be an autopsy done to give us a professional report,” she said.

Pinheiro urged the court to proceed with the hearing, maintaining that 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 intended 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 also requested that the court direct Euracare to preserve all physical and electronic evidence from January 6, 2026, including CCTV footage, electronic monitoring records, pharmacy logs, emergency equipment documentation, internal communications, and morbidity and mortality review reports.

Pinheiro proposed that Euracare open its defence first, followed by the family and then Atlantis Hospital.

The magistrate agreed that Euracare would present first but ruled that the family would follow next, with Atlantis Hospital presenting afterward.

Earlier, Onyemelukwe informed the court that Atlantis would give its account of events, noting that she became aware of the court appearance only on Tuesday after receiving correspondence.

Rahman, representing the Attorney-General, told the court that following reports of the child’s death, the Lagos Attorney-General applied for an inquest.

“Since all the parties are here, we would be asking the court to open the hearing. We pray this court to commence with the hearing,” he said.

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 reportedly included an echocardiogram, brain MRI, insertion of a peripherally inserted central catheter, lumbar puncture, and intravenous sedation using propofol.

The parents alleged that the child developed sudden and severe complications while being transported to the cardiac catheterisation laboratory after the MRI.

The notice raised concerns about cumulative dosing of propofol in a critically ill child, inadequate airway protection during deep sedation, failure to ensure continuous physiological monitoring, transfer without supplemental oxygen or adequate monitoring, insufficient accompanying medical personnel, alleged unavailability of basic resuscitation equipment, delayed recognition and management of respiratory or cardiovascular distress, and non-compliance with established paediatric anaesthesia and patient-transfer safety standards.

The court subsequently adjourned proceedings to April 14, 2026, for the commencement of the inquest.