The Coroner’s Court at Yaba Magistrate Court has adjourned proceedings until April 14, 2026, for the formal commencement of an inquiry into the death of 21-month-old Master Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, son of acclaimed Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr Ivara Esege.
Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji set the date on Wednesday during a preliminary session to determine whether a formal inquest would proceed.
Nkanu passed away on January 7, 2026, following treatment at Atlantis Hospital and medical procedures at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos. The child had initially been admitted to Atlantis for a mild but worsening illness and was later referred to Euracare for pre-flight diagnostics, including an MRI, lumbar puncture, and insertion of a central line, in preparation for transfer to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States.
The child’s parents have alleged medical negligence and professional misconduct in connection with his death.
At the hearing, Professor Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) appeared 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, with Euracare also represented.
Magistrate Adetunji explained that the preliminary session followed a request by the Lagos State Attorney-General and the Chief Coroner for an inquest, noting that the government also considers itself bereaved.
“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.
She instructed all parties to submit witness statements ahead of the next adjourned date, cautioning that the court’s focus is to determine the cause of the incident. On autopsy, she said:
“For every inquest, the starting point is that there must be an autopsy done to give us a professional report.”
Pinheiro urged the court to commence the hearing, maintaining that the child’s death was unnatural and occurred during medical intervention. He said the family plans to present evidence alleging gross medical negligence, possible overdose, wrongful prescription, improper administration of propofol, and wrongful diagnosis.
The family intends to call five independent medical experts, including an anesthesiologist, a paediatric anaesthesia specialist, a radiologist, an intensivist, and the child’s father, who is also a medical doctor.
Pinheiro also requested that Euracare preserve all physical and electronic evidence from January 6, 2026, including CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data, pharmacy records, emergency equipment logs, internal communications, and morbidity and mortality reviews.
The magistrate ruled that Euracare would present its case first, followed by the family, and then Atlantis Hospital.
Earlier, Onyemelukwe told the court that Atlantis Hospital would provide its account of events, adding that she was only made aware of the court appearance on Tuesday. Rahman, representing the Lagos AG, said:
“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.”
In a legal notice dated January 10, 2026, issued by Pinheiro’s firm, Adichie and her husband accused Euracare, its anesthesiologist, and attending medical personnel of breaching the duty of care owed to their son. The notice stated that Nkanu, born March 25, 2024, was referred to Euracare on January 6, 2026, for diagnostic and preparatory procedures ahead of an emergency medical evacuation to the US.
The procedures reportedly included an echocardiogram, brain MRI, insertion of a peripherally inserted central catheter, lumbar puncture, and intravenous sedation using propofol.