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Nigeria will formally investigate the death of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi Esege.
The investigation is set to begin on April 14, following a preliminary hearing at Yaba Magistrate Court in Lagos. Nkanu passed away at Euracare Hospital about seven weeks ago while visiting Lagos for the holidays. He is one of Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege's, twin boys, and the couple also has a 9-year-old daughter.
Adichie and her family have accused the hospital of negligence, claiming that her son was given excessive sedation and denied oxygen, which allegedly led to cardiac arrest. Euracare issued a statement expressing "deepest sympathies" for the loss but denied any wrongdoing, insisting that their care met international standards.
During the upcoming proceedings, the court is expected to hear testimony from medical experts and hospital representatives while the coroner determines the cause and circumstances of Nkanu's death. According to reports, the boy died on January 6, just one day before he was scheduled to be flown to The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
In a private WhatsApp chat with family and friends, Adichie alleged that the anesthesiologist at the hospital acted "CRIMINALLY negligent," claiming he turned off Nkanu's oxygen and carried him to the ICU. Her sister-in-law, Dr. Anthea Nwandu, also suggested to Nigerian broadcaster AriseTV that the child suffered a brain injury due to oxygen deprivation. Family spokesperson Omawumi Ogbe confirmed the contents of the chat to PEOPLE, emphasizing that the leaked messages reflect the "devastating clinical failures" the family is confronting. Ogbe added that the family has issued a legal notice to Euracare and will work with legal representatives to seek accountability.
Euracare responded to the allegations, stating that Nkanu arrived in a critically ill condition and that suggestions of negligence were inaccurate. The hospital described the child's death as a "profound and unimaginable loss" and noted that media reports contained inaccuracies.
Adichie, the acclaimed author of Purple Hibiscus and Americanah, gave birth to her first child, a daughter, in 2016, and welcomed her twin sons via surrogate in 2024. She has been recognized for her influence in literature and activism, including being named one of Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World" in 2015.
The family's goal through the investigation is to establish the truth and ensure accountability, as they continue to grieve Nkanu's loss while seeking answers regarding the medical care he received.
This investigation will follow formal legal and institutional processes in Nigeria to determine whether medical negligence contributed to the child's untimely death.