For many Nigerians at home and abroad, hospitals especially private ones—are expected to offer reassurance and safety. But when tragedy strikes behind hospital doors, it often exposes deeper cracks in the healthcare system.
The death of 21-month-old Nkanu Adichie-Esege, son of renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband Dr. Ivara Esege, has reignited a national conversation about medical care, accountability and patient safety in Nigeria.
The grieving family has formally demanded that Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Lagos, where the child reportedly received treatment, release all medical records and preserve evidence related to the incident.
The demand was made in a four-page legal letter written by top law firm Pinheiro LP and signed by its founding partner, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN). The letter was addressed to Euracare’s Medical Director, Dr. Tosin Majekodunmi.
According to the lawyers, the hospital may have committed “prima facie breaches of the duty of care” during the child’s treatment earlier this year.
The letter stated that Nkanu was referred to Euracare from Atlantis Pediatric Hospital for medical procedures including an echocardiogram, brain MRI, PICC line insertion and lumbar puncture. These were meant to prepare him for transfer to Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, where a specialist team was reportedly on standby.
However, after being sedated with propofol and transferred following the MRI, the child suffered sudden complications and later died.
“A preliminary evaluation of the facts, viewed against established standards of paediatric anaesthetic and procedural care, raises serious and substantive concerns,” the letter said.
The family’s legal team identified 12 major issues, including:
Questionable propofol dosage
Lack of proper airway protection
Inadequate oxygen supply during transfer
Absence of continuous monitoring
Failure to follow paediatric safety protocols
“The foregoing matters disclose prima facie breaches of the duty of care owed to the deceased child,” the lawyers stated, holding the hospital, the anaesthesiologist and other medical staff liable for possible medical negligence.
The Adichie-Esege family has demanded that Euracare release, within seven days, certified copies of:
Admission and consent forms
Drug and monitoring charts
Procedure and ICU records
Incident reports
Names and roles of all medical personnel involved
They also instructed the hospital to preserve all physical, electronic and digital evidence, including:
CCTV footage
Electronic monitoring data
Pharmacy logs
Internal reviews
The lawyers warned that any attempt to destroy or alter evidence would amount to obstruction of justice.
“Non-compliance within the 7-day window would trigger all available legal, regulatory, and judicial remedies,” the letter added.
As of the time of publication, Euracare Hospital had not issued any public response.
Following widespread public outrage, the Lagos State Government ordered an investigation into the alleged medical negligence surrounding the child’s death.
The case has added to growing concerns about patient safety in both public and private hospitals across Nigeria, with several families previously accusing healthcare facilities of poor monitoring, inadequate staffing and delayed emergency responses.
Earlier this week, the Kano State Hospitals Management Board ordered a probe into the death of a housewife, Aishatu Umar, who reportedly died after a surgical procedure at Abubakar Imam Urology Centre, Kano.
In many cases, investigations are slow, regulatory actions are delayed, and outcomes remain unclear—fueling public mistrust in the healthcare system.
Legal expert and former NBA President Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, described the situation as part of a wider national crisis.
“The recent tragic loss of Nkanu Nnamdi has once again brought this critical national crisis to the forefront of public consciousness.”
“I am not shocked that such a simple procedure at a reputable hospital has ended so terribly.
Propofol requires exceptional care due to its potential for cardio-respiratory failure. An overdose can be fatal, and there appears to be a strong possibility of overdose in this case.”
However, former President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Francis Faduyile, urged restraint.
“Every profession has its own ethics and regulations. Let us follow the process,” he said, questioning why the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) had not yet begun a formal investigation.
“They have lost a loved one and they are in deep grief,” he added.
The tragic death of Nkanu Adichie-Esege has raised difficult questions about patient safety, medical accountability and regulatory oversight in Nigeria.
Beyond the personal loss suffered by the Adichie-Esege family, the outcome of this case may shape future standards for transparency, accountability and trust in Nigerian healthcare.
