Panel Suspends Medical Director, Two Doctors Over Death of Chimamanda Adichie’s son, Nkanu Adichie-Esege

• Three doctors, including the Medical Director of Euracare Hospital, have been suspended over alleged medical negligence linked to the death of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 21-month-old son.
• The case will now proceed to the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.

The Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel has suspended three doctors, including Dr. Tunde Majekodunmi, Medical Director of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, following findings of medical negligence in the treatment of 21-month-old Nkanu Adichie-Esege.

The child, one of the twin sons of renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband Ivara Esege, died on January 7, 2026, after a brief illness.

In a statement issued days after the incident, Adichie alleged negligence during her son’s treatment at Euracare Hospital in Lagos. She explained that he was taken to the hospital for an MRI scan and insertion of a central line after what initially appeared to be a common cold developed into a serious infection.

According to her account, the toddler was sedated with propofol but was not properly monitored afterward, leading to complications including unresponsiveness, seizures, and cardiac arrest. “He would be alive today if not for an incident at Euracare Hospital on January 6th,” she stated.

Following the complaint, an investigation panel was constituted to examine the circumstances surrounding the death. After reviewing petitions, counter-affidavits, and oral depositions from 21 doctors, the panel suspended Dr. Majekodunmi, Euracare’s anesthesiologist Dr. Titus Ogundare, and Dr. Atinuke Uwajeh, Chief Medical Officer at Atlantis Pediatric Hospital.

The trio has been barred from practicing medicine in Nigeria pending the determination of their cases before the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.

The panel also found a prima facie case of professional misconduct against 10 other doctors, while eight were cleared of any wrongdoing.

The decisions were reached during the panel’s 25th session held in Abuja on February 17 and 18, 2026.