Prosper Okoye
A coroner’s court in Lagos is set to investigate the death of Nkanu, the 21-month-old son of Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, following allegations of medical negligence by his family.
The inquiry, which will examine the circumstances surrounding the child’s death during medical treatment, was adjourned on Wednesday to 14 April 2026 by Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji at the Yaba Magistrate Court.
Magistrate Adetunji fixed the date when the matter first came up in court, marking the start of preliminary proceedings to determine whether a full inquest would proceed.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAt the hearing, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kemi Pinheiro appeared for the family, while Adebola Rahman represented the Lagos State Attorney-General. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, of Health Ethics and Law Consulting, appeared for Atlantis Hospital, with another lawyer representing Euracare.
The magistrate said the court had received an application from the Chief Coroner of Lagos State following a request by the state government for an inquest into the case.
She added that the Lagos State Government also considered itself affected by the child’s death.
“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.
The court directed all parties to file their witness statements before the next hearing and urged caution, stressing that the aim of the proceedings is to establish the cause of death.
Magistrate Adetunji noted that an autopsy would form a key part of the process, describing it as the starting point for any inquest.
Mr Pinheiro told the court that the family believes the child’s death was not natural and occurred during medical treatment.
He said they would present evidence alleging gross medical negligence, including possible overdose, wrongful prescription, improper administration of sedatives and misdiagnosis.
According to him, the family plans to call five independent medical experts, including specialists in anaesthesia, radiology and intensive care, as well as the child’s father, who is also a doctor.
He also asked the court to direct Euracare to preserve all relevant evidence from 6 January 2026, including CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data, pharmacy records and internal communications.
During proceedings, the magistrate ruled that Euracare would open its case when the hearing begins, followed by the family and then Atlantis Hospital.
Counsel for Atlantis Hospital said the facility would present its account of events, while the Attorney-General’s representative said the state had applied for the inquest after reports of the child’s death.
Nkanu Adichie died on 7 January 2026 after receiving care at Atlantis Hospital and undergoing procedures at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos.
According to the family, he had initially been admitted for a worsening illness before being referred for diagnostic procedures ahead of a planned medical transfer abroad.
The parents allege that the child developed severe complications during treatment and have accused medical personnel of breaching their duty of care.
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In a legal notice issued in January, the family raised concerns about sedation practices, monitoring, emergency response and adherence to paediatric safety standards.
The court is expected to begin the substantive hearing on 14 April.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
