By Achile Danjuma
The Coroner’s Court in Yaba, Lagos, has scheduled April 14, 2026, for the commencement of an inquest into the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, the son of renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr. Ivara Esege.
The date was set on Wednesday by Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji during preliminary proceedings, marking a formal step toward investigating the circumstances surrounding the toddler’s death on January 7, 2026.
Master Esege died after receiving treatment at two Lagos medical facilities—Atlantis Hospital and Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital—where he underwent a series of diagnostic procedures. His parents have publicly alleged medical negligence and professional misconduct, claiming that errors in his care led to his death.
According to details presented in court, the child was initially admitted to Atlantis Hospital for what his family described as a worsening but initially mild illness. As his family made arrangements to transfer him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States for advanced care, Atlantis Hospital referred him to Euracare for necessary pre-flight diagnostic procedures.
These procedures included a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan, a lumbar puncture, and the insertion of a central line. It was following these interventions at Euracare that the child died.
When the case was called, Prof. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) appeared for the Esege family. Adebola Rahman represented the Attorney-General of Lagos State, while Prof. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe of Health Ethics and Law Consulting appeared for Atlantis Hospital. Euracare was also represented by counsel.
Magistrate Adetunji explained that the session was convened to determine whether a formal inquest would proceed, following an application from the Chief Coroner at the request of the Attorney-General. She noted the state’s vested interest in the matter, stating, “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.”
The magistrate directed all parties to file their witness statements before the next adjourned date, stressing the court’s primary objective is to determine the cause of death. She emphasized that an autopsy would be foundational to the proceedings.
“For every inquest, the starting point is that there must be an autopsy done to give us a professional report,” Adetunji said.
Arguing for the inquest to proceed, Prof. Pinheiro told the court that the family believes their son’s death was unnatural and occurred during medical intervention. He outlined plans to present evidence alleging gross medical negligence, including possible drug overdose, wrongful prescription, improper administration of the anesthetic propofol, and incorrect diagnosis.
The family intends to call five independent medical experts to testify: an anaesthesiologist, a paediatric anaesthesia specialist, a radiologist, an intensivist, and Dr. Ivara Esege, the child’s father, who is also a medical doctor.
Pinheiro also urged the court to compel Euracare to preserve all physical and electronic evidence from January 6, 2026. This includes CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data, pharmacy records, emergency equipment logs, internal communications, and morbidity and mortality review documents—material the family views as critical to establishing the facts.
Following discussions on the order of proceedings, Magistrate Adetunji ruled that Euracare, as the facility where the child died, would present its case first. The family will follow, with Atlantis Hospital presenting its account last.
Prof. Onyemelukwe informed the court that Atlantis Hospital is prepared to present its account of the events leading to the referral. Adebola Rahman, for the Attorney-General, confirmed that the state government applied for the inquest following news of the child’s death and urged the court to proceed with the hearing.
The inquest stems from a legal notice dated January 10, 2026, issued by the law firm led by Prof. Pinheiro (SAN). In that notice, Adichie and her husband formally accused Euracare, its anaesthesiologist, and other attending medical personnel of breaching the duty of care owed to their son.