By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Coroner’s Court sitting at the Yaba Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, has adjourned proceedings till April 14 for the commencement of an inquiry into the death of the son of Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie and Dr Ivara Esege.
The Magistrate, Atinuke Adetunji, fixed the date on Wednesday, February 25, when the matter came up before the court.
The 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi Esege died on January 7 after receiving care at Atlantis Hospital and undergoing medical procedures at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos.
Nkanu was initially admitted to Atlantis Hospital for what was described as a worsening but initially mild illness.
While arrangements were being made to transfer him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States, Atlantis referred him to Euracare for pre-flight diagnostic procedures, including an MRI, lumbar puncture, and insertion of a central line.
However, the child passed away following the procedures, and his parents alleged medical negligence and professional misconduct in connection with his death.
When the case was called on Wednesday, Mr Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) announced his appearance for the family; Adebola Rahman appeared on behalf of the Attorney-General of Lagos State; Professor Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, of Health Ethics and Law Consulting, represented Atlantis Hospital, while Euracare was also represented.
In a preliminary meeting with the parties, Adetunji said that the court received an application from the Chief Coroner of Lagos State following a request by the Attorney-General that an inquest be conducted.
Adetunji noted that the Lagos State government also considers itself bereaved, which necessitated the Attorney-General’s request for an inquest.
She said: “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 explained that the preliminary session was to determine whether a formal inquest would proceed, adding that an autopsy is generally the starting point in every inquest.
She directed all parties to file their witness statements before the next adjourned date and urged them to approach the proceedings carefully, stressing that the court’s goal was to determine the cause of the incident.
Pinheiro urged the court to proceed with the hearing, stating that the parents maintain that the child’s death was unnatural and occurred during medical intervention.
He said the family would present evidence alleging gross medical negligence, possible overdose, wrongful prescription, improper administration of propofol and wrongful diagnosis.
The lawyer disclosed that the family plans to call five independent medical professionals, including an anesthesiologist, a paediatric anaesthesia specialist, a radiologist, an intensivist, and the child’s father, who is also a medical doctor.
Pinheiro also urged the court to direct Euracare to preserve all physical and electronic evidence from January 6, including CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data, pharmacy records, emergency equipment logs, internal communications, and morbidity and mortality reviews.
He suggested that Euracare should open the hearing, followed by the family and then Atlantis Hospital, to which the magistrate agreed.
Earlier, Onyemelukwe told the court that Atlantis would present its account of events. She stated that she only became aware of the court appearance on Tuesday after receiving a letter.
Rahman, representing the Attorney-General, said that following news of the child’s death, the Lagos AG applied for an inquest.
Adichie and her husband had in a legal notice dated January 10 and issued by the law firm led by Pinheiro accused Euracare, its anesthesiologist, and other attending medical personnel of breaching the duty of care owed to their son.
The notice stated that the child, born on March 25, 2024, was referred to Euracare on January 6, 2026, for diagnostic and preparatory procedures ahead of an emergency medical evacuation to the United States, where a specialist team was reportedly on standby.
The procedures reportedly included an echocardiogram, a brain MRI, and insertion of a peripherally inserted central catheter. Lumbar puncture, intravenous sedation using propofol was administered.
The parents alleged that the child developed sudden and severe complications while being transported to the cardiac catheterisation laboratory after the MRI.
