Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie and her partner, Dr. Ivara Esege, are demanding accountability from Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital following the tragic death of their 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, on January 7, 2026. The parents allege medical negligence and professional impropriety, prompting Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to order a full investigation.

Master Nkanu, born on March 25, 2024, was referred to Euracare from Atlantis Pediatric Hospital on January 6, 2026, for diagnostic procedures including an echocardiogram, brain MRI, PICC line insertion, and lumbar puncture ahead of a planned medical evacuation to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the U.S. He was under intravenous sedation with propofol during these procedures.

According to a legal notice dated January 10, 2026, issued by Professor Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, complications arose during Nkanu’s transfer to the cardiac catheterisation lab after the MRI. The child was allegedly moved under conditions that raised “serious and substantive concerns” about patient-safety compliance and was pronounced dead in the early hours of January 7, sparking public outrage and grief.

The legal notice cites multiple alleged lapses in paediatric anaesthetic care, including improper dosing of propofol, insufficient airway protection during deep sedation, lack of continuous physiological monitoring, and unsafe transfers without supplemental oxygen or adequate medical supervision. Concerns were also raised about resuscitation equipment availability and the hospital’s failure to fully inform the parents about risks associated with sedation.

As part of the legal action, the parents have demanded certified copies of all medical records within seven days. This includes admission notes, consent forms, anaesthetic charts, monitoring logs, ICU records, incident reports, and the identities of all staff involved. Euracare has also been formally instructed to preserve all physical and electronic evidence, with warnings that any destruction or alteration will be treated as obstruction of justice.

Adding to the controversy, Dr. Anthea Esege Nwandu, the child’s aunt and a board-certified internal medicine physician, issued a detailed rebuttal of Euracare’s January 10 statement. She disputed claims that the child received care at multiple facilities prior to Euracare and highlighted several serious departures from international standards, including the absence of continuous oxygen monitoring and unsafe transfers within the hospital.

Governor Sanwo-Olu has directed the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) to conduct a transparent, independent investigation. Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser on Health, expressed the governor’s condolences and affirmed zero tolerance for negligence. HEFAMAA, working alongside the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), is reviewing clinical protocols, professional conduct, and patient safety measures to ensure accountability, with the promise that findings will be made public and any culpable party held fully responsible.