Lagos —
has accused Euracare Multispecialist Hospital in Lagos of medical negligence following the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, on January 7, 2026.
In a detailed statement confirmed by her media team, Adichie said her son “would be alive today if not for an incident at Euracare Hospital on January 6,” where he was taken for medical procedures.
The acclaimed novelist revealed that her family had been in Lagos for Christmas when Nkanu developed what they initially thought was a simple cold, which quickly turned into a serious infection.
He was admitted to Atlantis Hospital and was scheduled to travel to the United States for specialised treatment on January 7, with a medical team at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore waiting for him.
Before the trip, doctors requested an MRI scan, a lumbar puncture, and the insertion of a central line to administer medications during the flight. Atlantis Hospital referred the family to Euracare Hospital to perform these procedures.
On the morning of January 6, Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege, took Nkanu to Euracare. The child was to be sedated to prevent movement during the procedures. While waiting outside the theatre, Adichie said she saw medical personnel rushing in and immediately knew something had gone wrong.
According to her account, she was later told her son had been given an excessive dose of propofol by the anaesthesiologist, had become unresponsive, and was quickly resuscitated.
He was then placed on a ventilator, intubated, and taken to the intensive care unit, where he suffered seizures and cardiac arrest. Nkanu died just hours later.
Adichie alleged that after administering the drug, Nkanu was never properly monitored. She claimed the anaesthesiologist carried him on his shoulder instead of placing him on proper medical equipment, and that no one knew exactly when he stopped responding.
“We brought in a child who was unwell but stable and scheduled to travel the next day. We came to conduct basic procedures, and suddenly, our beautiful little boy was gone forever,” Adichie stated in her message.
She also claimed that the family later learnt of prior incidents involving the same anaesthesiologist.
“We have now heard about two previous cases of this same anesthesiologist overdosing children. Why did Euracare allow him to keep working? This must never happen to another child,” she said.
Solicitors acting for Adichie and Dr. Esege have issued a legal notice dated January 10, 2026, alleging that the hospital, its anaesthesiologist, and attending medical personnel breached the duty of care owed to their son. The notice was issued by PINHEIRO LP and signed by founding partner Prof. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN).
In response, Euracare Multispecialist Hospital expressed deep sympathy to Adichie and her family, describing the loss as profound and heartbreaking. However, the hospital said it was necessary to clarify what it termed inaccuracies in some reports circulating about the incident.
According to Euracare, the patient was critically ill and had been referred to its facility for specific diagnostic procedures after receiving treatment at two paediatric centres.
The hospital stated that upon the patient’s arrival, its internationally trained clinical team immediately began providing care in accordance with established clinical protocols and internationally accepted medical standards.
Euracare announced that it has launched a thorough investigation in accordance with its clinical governance standards and best practices, emphasising its commitment to transparency and responsible participation in all clinical and regulatory processes.
The deceased child’s aunt, Dr. Anthea Esege Nwandu, a dual board-certified Internal Medicine physician with 30 years of global clinical experience, disputed Euracare’s statement.
She stated that international standards demand continuous oxygen therapy for a child on oxygen who is given sedation and continuous monitoring of oxygen levels, pulse, and respiration, and that when moving the child, he must be accompanied by resuscitative equipment. According to Dr. Nwandu, Euracare failed to meet these standards.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered a probe into the alleged medical negligence. The Special Adviser to the governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, confirmed that the anaesthesiologist involved has been suspended by the hospital’s management and that an active investigation is underway.
The Nigerian Society of Anaesthetists is keeping an eye on things as well. Its national president, Prof. Alhassan Mohammed, stated that any investigation would focus on verifying the registration status of the individuals and facilities involved, ensuring compliance with approved scopes of practice, adhering to medical protocols, and determining whether negligence contributed to the incident.
Nkanu Nnamdi was one of Adichie’s twin sons born in 2024. Following the announcement of his death, several prominent Nigerians, including President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former presidential candidate Peter Obi, expressed condolences to the family.
The tragedy has sparked national conversation about medical standards, patient safety protocols, and accountability in Nigerian healthcare facilities. Many Nigerians have called for thorough investigations and reforms to prevent similar incidents.
The investigation continues as authorities look into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death and whether proper medical protocols were followed during his treatment at Euracare Hospital.
