A coroner sitting at the Yaba Magistrate Court in Lagos has fixed April 14, 2026, for the commencement of an inquest into the death of Nkanu, the 21-month-old son of acclaimed Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege.
Gatekeepers News reports that Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji announced the date on Wednesday during a preliminary session involving legal representatives of the family, the Lagos State Government, and the hospitals linked to the child’s treatment.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kemi Pinheiro, appeared for the family, while Adebola Rahman represented the Lagos State Attorney-General. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe represented Atlantis Hospital, and another counsel appeared for Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital.
Magistrate Adetunji said the court received an application from the Chief Coroner of Lagos State following a request by the Attorney-General for a formal inquest. She noted that the state also considers itself affected by the tragedy.
“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 explained that the preliminary sitting was to determine whether a full inquest would proceed and directed all parties to file their witness statements before the next hearing.
The magistrate emphasised that the purpose of the inquest is to establish the cause and circumstances of the child’s death, noting that an autopsy is a critical first step.
“For every inquest, the starting point is that there must be an autopsy done to give us a professional report,” she said.
Pinheiro urged the court to proceed, stating that the parents believe their son’s death was unnatural and occurred during medical care. He said the family would present evidence alleging gross medical negligence, including possible overdose, wrongful prescription, improper administration of propofol, and incorrect diagnosis.
He added that the family intends to call five independent medical experts—including specialists in anaesthesia, paediatric anaesthesia, radiology, and intensive care—as well as the child’s father, who is also a medical doctor.
Pinheiro also asked the court to order Euracare to preserve all physical and electronic evidence from January 6, 2026, including CCTV recordings, monitoring data, pharmacy logs, emergency equipment records, internal communications, and mortality review documents.
During proceedings, he suggested Euracare should present its case first, followed by the family and Atlantis Hospital. The magistrate agreed to that order.
Onyemelukwe, representing Atlantis Hospital, told the court the facility would present its account of events, noting she had only received notice of the proceedings a day earlier.
Rahman, representing the Attorney-General, said the state requested the inquest after learning of the child’s death.
“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,” he said.
The court adjourned until April 14 for the substantive hearing.
Allegations of medical negligence
Nkanu Adichie died on January 7, 2026, after receiving treatment at Atlantis Hospital and undergoing diagnostic procedures at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos.
He had initially been admitted to Atlantis Hospital for what was described as a worsening illness. While plans were underway to transfer him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States for specialised treatment, he was referred to Euracare for preparatory procedures, including an MRI scan, lumbar puncture, and insertion of a central line.
According to a legal notice issued January 10, 2026, by Pinheiro’s law firm, the parents alleged that Euracare and its medical personnel breached their duty of care.
The notice stated that the child underwent several diagnostic procedures, including an echocardiogram, brain MRI, and insertion of a peripherally inserted central catheter, alongside intravenous sedation using propofol.
The parents alleged that the child developed sudden complications while being transported after the MRI and raised concerns about cumulative propofol dosing, inadequate airway protection, insufficient monitoring, lack of oxygen support during transfer, and delayed emergency response.
They also questioned the availability of resuscitation equipment and compliance with established paediatric anaesthesia and patient-transfer safety protocols.
The inquest is expected to examine medical evidence and witness testimony to determine the exact cause and circumstances of the child’s death.
