A Coroner sitting at the Yaba Magistrate Court in Lagos has fixed April 14, 2026, for the commencement of an inquest into the death of 21-month-old Nkanu, son of acclaimed Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr. Ivara Esege.
Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji adjourned the matter on Wednesday when it came up in court.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kemi Pinheiro, announced appearance for the family, while Adebola Rahman represented the Attorney-General of Lagos State. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe of Health Ethics and Law Consulting appeared for Atlantis Hospital, with another counsel representing Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital.
During a preliminary session, 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 bereaved in the matter.
The magistrate explained that the preliminary proceedings were to determine whether a formal inquest would proceed and directed all parties to file their witness statements ahead of the next adjourned date. She emphasised that the purpose of the inquest is to determine the cause of death.
She further stated that an autopsy is generally the starting point in every inquest to provide a professional medical report.
Pinheiro urged the court to proceed with the hearing, maintaining that the parents believe the child’s death was unnatural and occurred during medical intervention. He indicated that the family would present evidence alleging gross medical negligence, possible overdose, wrongful prescription and administration of propofol, and wrongful diagnosis.
According to him, the family plans to call five independent medical experts, including an anesthesiologist, a paediatric anaesthesia specialist, a radiologist, an intensivist, as well as the child’s father.
He also requested that Euracare preserve all physical and electronic evidence from January 6, 2026, including CCTV footage, monitoring data, pharmacy records, emergency equipment logs, internal communications, and morbidity and mortality reviews.
The magistrate ruled that Euracare would open its case at the hearing, followed by the family and then Atlantis Hospital.
Nkanu reportedly died on January 7, 2026, after receiving care at Atlantis Hospital and undergoing medical procedures at Euracare in Lagos. He had initially been admitted for what was described as a worsening but initially mild illness.
While arrangements were underway to transfer him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States for further treatment, Atlantis referred him to Euracare for pre-flight diagnostic procedures, including an MRI, lumbar puncture, echocardiogram, and insertion of a peripherally inserted central catheter.
According to the family’s legal notice, intravenous sedation using propofol was administered, and the child allegedly developed sudden and severe complications while being transported after the MRI.
The parents have alleged breaches of duty of care, raising concerns about cumulative dosing of propofol, inadequate airway protection, failure to ensure continuous monitoring, insufficient medical personnel during transfer, and delayed recognition and management of distress.
The court is expected to reconvene on April 14, 2026, for the substantive hearing.
