CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE ACCUSES LAGOS HOSPITAL OF ALLEGED COVER-UP IN SON’S DEATH
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By: Muftau Fatimo
Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has made public a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Lagos, in which she accused the hospital of attempting to conceal circumstances surrounding the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi Adichie-Esege.
Adichie shared the April 16, 2026 letter on her Facebook page on Saturday, stating that she chose to release it publicly because, according to her, “to remain silent about Euracare’s wrongdoing is to enable it.”
In the letter, the author alleged that Euracare’s Medical Director, Dr Tosin Majekodunmi, visited the family at their Ikoyi residence on January 8, a day after Nkanu’s death, and acknowledged that the anaesthesiologist, Dr Titus Ogundare, did not adhere to the required standard of care.
According to the letter, Majekodunmi told Adichie on January 6 that Ogundare had given Nkanu “too much propofol” — words she described as his exact statement to her after she saw him rush into the catheterisation laboratory where the child was.
She said the director accepted full responsibility and promised to dismiss Dr Ogundare.
However, she alleged that he subsequently stopped communicating with the family, stating that Euracare management had taken over and effectively silenced him.
Adichie further alleged that Euracare listed bacterial and fungal meningitis as the cause of death on Nkanu’s death certificate, a claim she described as inaccurate.
She alleged that the Medical Director initially accepted full responsibility for the incident and assured the family that Dr Ogundare would be relieved of his duties.
However, Adichie claimed that communication later ceased, alleging that Euracare’s management stepped in and prevented further engagement with the family.
She further alleged that the hospital listed bacterial and fungal meningitis as the cause of death on Nkanu’s death certificate, a conclusion she disputed.
According to her, “When Nkanu arrived at Euracare that morning for tests, he was conscious, responsive and interacting. He was unwell but not in a critical condition.”
Adichie maintained that the death certificate should be amended to reflect what she believes to be the actual cause of death, which she identified as improper sedation, hypoxic brain injury and cardiac arrest.
The author also alleged that a senior member of Euracare’s ownership communicated with a relative, cautioning against legal action and suggesting that negative claims could emerge because court cases are often driven by the desire to win at all costs.
Adichie described the message as “manipulative and implicitly threatening.”
“They can drag all they wish in the mud, but our quest for justice will continue,” she said.
On the ongoing inquest, Adichie noted that it was Euracare itself that first applied for a coroner’s inquest in January, citing “rumours of negligence.”
She said the hospital has since deployed delaying tactics and is now seeking to stop the inquest entirely.
If Euracare cares about the truth, then why create delays and distractions and now, finally, try to stop an inquest?” she asked.
The Lagos State High Court, on May 26, granted Euracare leave to challenge the jurisdiction of the Coroner’s Court, ordering a stay of the inquest proceedings pending the determination of a judicial review application filed by the hospital. The Coroner’s Court subsequently adjourned the matter to October 8, 2026.
The Lagos State Attorney-General, Lawal Pedro (SAN), and the Chief Coroner of Lagos State have since filed a preliminary objection urging the High Court to dismiss Euracare’s application, describing it as incompetent, premature, and an abuse of court process
Nkanu, the older of Adichie’s twin sons, died on January 7, 2026, following complications during sedation procedures at Euracare.
The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria subsequently suspended Dr Ogundare and Dr Majekodunmi, alongside the Chief Medical Officer of Atlantis Pediatric Hospital, Dr Atinuke Uwajeh, pending disciplinary proceedings.
Euracare had not responded to Adichie’s post as of the time of this report.
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