In a statement released on Saturday, January 10, 2026, Adichie described the tragic event and claimed that her son’s death was the result of medical incompetence. After an investigation revealed evidence of medical negligence in the treatment of 21-month-old Nkanu Adichie-Esege, the Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel suspended Dr. Tunde Majekodunmi, the Medical Director of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, along with two other physicians.
Remember when on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, one of the twin boys of famous author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her spouse, Ivara Esege, tragically died after a brief illness? In a statement released on Saturday, January 10, 2026, Adichie described the tragic event and claimed that her son’s death was the result of medical incompetence.
She clarified that after initially experiencing what they initially believed to be a typical cold, which subsequently “turned into a very serious infection,” her son was brought to Euracare Hospital in Lagos for an MRI and the installation of a central line.
Nkanu was sedated for the treatment, but it is said that after getting propofol, he was not adequately monitored, which led to consequences like cardiac arrest, convulsions, and loss of responsiveness.
“If it weren’t for an incident at Euracare Hospital on January 6th,” where he had been taken for medical procedures, Adichie said, “he would be alive today.” The incident was then investigated by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel.
Majekodunmi, the medical director of Euracare, Dr. Titus Ogundare, the hospital’s anaesthesiologist, and Dr. Atinuke Uwajeh, the chief medical officer of Atlantis Paediatric Hospital, were all suspended after the panel’s probe.
Until the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal rules on their cases, the three will not be permitted to practise medicine in Nigeria. Ten other physicians, including Drs. Adeseye Akinsete, Chidinma Ohagwu, Anthony Ajeh, Amarachi Bayo, Nkechi Peji, Olaoye Oludare, Agaja Oyinkansola, Patricia Akintan, Babatunde Bamgboye, and Raji Faidat, were also found to have a prima facie case of professional misconduct.
Eight other physicians were found not guilty of any crimes. After analysing the charges against all 21 doctors, looking over their counter-affidavits, and taking into account their oral depositions under oath, the panel came to these conclusions. The investigation came to an end on February 17 and 18, 2026, during the panel’s 25th meeting in Abuja.
