The Coroner’s Court sitting at the Yaba Magistrate Court in Lagos on Wednesday adjourned proceedings until April 14, 2026, for the commencement of an inquiry into the death of 21-month-old Master Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, son of acclaimed Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr Ivara Esege.
The court, presided over by Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji, fixed the date when the matter came up before the court, directing all parties to file their witness statements ahead of the hearing.
Chimamanda Adichie’s son died on January 7, 2026, after receiving treatment at Atlantis Hospital and undergoing medical procedures at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos.
He had initially been admitted to Atlantis for what was described as a worsening, but initially mild illness, before plans were made to transfer him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States.
Atlantis later referred the child to Euracare for pre-flight diagnostic procedures, including an MRI scan, lumbar puncture and insertion of a central line.
He reportedly died following the procedures. The child’s parents alleged medical negligence and professional misconduct in connection with his death and are seeking a coroner’s inquest to determine the cause.
When the matter was called, Professor Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) appeared for the family, Adebola Rahman represented the Lagos State Attorney-General, while Prof. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, of Health Ethics and Law Consulting, announced appearance for Atlantis Hospital. Euracare was also represented.
During a preliminary session with counsel, Magistrate Adetunji disclosed 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.
She noted that the Lagos State Government also considers itself affected by the incident.
“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 magistrate explained that the session was to determine whether a formal inquest would proceed and emphasised that the objective of the court was to establish the cause of the child’s death.
She added that an autopsy is typically the starting point in coroner proceedings, stating that a professional report would be required.
Pinheiro urged the court to proceed with the inquiry, maintaining that the parents believe the death was unnatural and occurred during medical intervention.
He told the court the family intends to present evidence alleging gross medical negligence, possible overdose, wrongful prescription, improper administration of propofol and wrongful diagnosis.
According to him, the family plans to call five independent medical professionals, including an anaesthesiologist, a paediatric anaesthesia specialist, a radiologist, an intensivist, and the child’s father, who is also a medical doctor.
The senior advocate also requested that Euracare be directed to preserve all physical and electronic evidence from January 6, 2026, including CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data, pharmacy records, emergency equipment logs, internal communications and morbidity and mortality reviews.
Pinheiro suggested that Euracare should open the hearing, followed by the family and then Atlantis Hospital.
The magistrate agreed that Euracare would proceed first but ruled that the family would present its case next, followed by Atlantis.
Earlier, Onyemelukwe told the court that Atlantis would present its account of events, noting she became aware of the court proceedings only a day earlier after receiving a letter.
Rahman, representing the Attorney-General, said the state applied for an inquest after news of the child’s death emerged, urging the court to commence the hearing since all parties were present.
In a legal notice dated January 10, 2026, issued by Pinheiro’s law firm, the parents accused Euracare, its anaesthesiologist, and other attending medical personnel of breaching the duty of care owed to their son.
The notice stated that the child, born 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 medical team was reportedly on standby.
Procedures carried out reportedly included an echocardiogram, brain MRI, insertion of a peripherally inserted central catheter and lumbar puncture, with intravenous sedation using propofol.
The parents alleged the child developed severe complications while being transported to the cardiac catheterisation laboratory after the MRI, raising concerns about cumulative dosing of propofol, airway protection, monitoring standards during transfer and the availability of resuscitation equipment.