Renowned Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Ivara Esege, have formally requested full disclosure of medical records from Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Lagos, following the death of their 21-month-old son, Nkanu Adichie-Esege.
The request was conveyed in a legal letter dated January 10, 2026, written by the law firm Pinheiro LP and signed by its founding partner, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN). The letter gives the hospital a seven-day deadline to release comprehensive documentation relating to the child’s treatment and to preserve all evidence connected to the incident.
Nkanu, who was born on March 25, 2024, died on January 7, 2026, while undergoing medical procedures at the hospital. According to the letter, he had been referred to Euracare from Atlantis Pediatric Hospital for several diagnostic and preparatory procedures, including an echocardiogram, brain MRI, insertion of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC line), and a lumbar puncture. These were reportedly part of arrangements for his transfer to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, United States, where a specialist medical team was said to be on standby.
The lawyers stated that the child was sedated with propofol at Euracare and subsequently developed sudden complications during transfer after the MRI, leading to his death.
In the four-page correspondence addressed to Euracare’s Medical Director, Dr Tosin Majekodunmi, the hospital was accused of what the lawyers described as apparent failures in its duty of care. The letter said an initial assessment of the circumstances, when measured against accepted standards of paediatric anaesthetic and procedural care, raised serious concerns.
The legal team outlined 12 areas of concern, including the suitability and dosage of propofol, airway management during sedation, alleged lack of oxygen during transfer, absence of continuous monitoring, and failure to adhere to established paediatric anaesthesia and patient safety protocols.
The letter asserted that these issues pointed to prima facie medical negligence and held the hospital, the attending anaesthesiologist, and other medical staff potentially liable for the child’s death.
As part of their demands, Adichie and her husband requested certified copies of all records connected to the child’s care, including admission notes, consent forms, medication charts, monitoring and procedure records, intensive care unit reports, incident reports, and a list of all medical personnel involved.
The hospital was also instructed to preserve all relevant evidence, including physical, electronic, and digital materials such as CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data, pharmacy records, and any internal reviews or reports related to the incident.
The lawyers warned that any destruction or alteration of evidence after receipt of the letter could amount to obstruction of justice and attract legal consequences. They added that failure to comply within the stipulated seven days would prompt further legal, regulatory, and judicial actions, while all rights and claims of their clients remain reserved.
As of the time of filing this report, Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital had not issued a public response to the letter.
