The Coroner sitting at the Yaba Magistrate Court has adjourned proceedings until April 14, 2026, for the commencement of the inquiry into the death of 21-month-old Nkanu, son of renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr. Ivara Esege.
Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji fixed the date on Wednesday when the matter came before the court. When the case was called, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kemi Pinheiro appeared for the family, while Adebola Rahman represented the Attorney-General of Lagos State.
Cheluchi Onyemelukwe of Health Ethics and Law Consulting represented Atlantis Hospital, and another counsel appeared for Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital.
In a preliminary session with all parties, Magistrate Adetunji said the court received an application from the Chief Coroner of Lagos State, following a request by the Attorney-General, for an inquest to be conducted.
She noted that the Lagos State Government also considers itself bereaved.
“The Lagos State Government is also bereaved; that is why the Attorney-General has taken this step. It is not just the family of the deceased that is affected,” she said.
The magistrate explained that the preliminary session was to determine whether a formal inquest would proceed. She directed all parties to file their witness statements ahead of the next adjourned date and cautioned them to approach the proceedings carefully, stressing that the court’s goal is to determine the cause of the incident.
Magistrate Adetunji added that an autopsy is generally the starting point in every inquest. “For every inquest, the starting point is that there must be an autopsy done to give us a professional report,” she said.
Pinheiro urged the court to proceed with the hearing, stating that the parents maintain that their child’s death was unnatural and occurred during medical intervention.
He said the family would present evidence alleging gross medical negligence, possible overdose, wrongful prescription, improper administration of propofol, and wrongful diagnosis.
According to him, the family plans to call five independent medical professionals, including an anaesthesiologist, a paediatric anaesthesia specialist, a radiologist, an intensivist, as well as the child’s father, who is also a medical doctor.
Pinheiro also requested that Euracare preserve all physical and electronic evidence from January 6, 2026, including CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data, pharmacy records, emergency equipment logs, internal communications, and morbidity and mortality reviews.
He suggested that Euracare present its evidence first, followed by the family and then Atlantis Hospital.
The magistrate agreed that Euracare would proceed first, followed by the family, with Atlantis presenting last.
Earlier, Onyemelukwe told the court that Atlantis Hospital would present its account of events.
She said she only became aware of the court appearance on Tuesday after receiving a letter.
Rahman, representing the Attorney-General, stated that following news of the child’s death, the Lagos State Government applied for an inquest.
“Since all the parties are here, we would be asking the court to open the hearing. We pray this court to commence with the hearing,” he said.
The court will reconvene on April 14, 2026, to begin the substantive hearing.
Nkanu Adichie died on January 7, 2026, after receiving care at Atlantis Hospital and undergoing medical procedures at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos.
The child was initially admitted to AtlantisChimamanda Adichie Hires SAN, Calls Five Independent Doctors as Coroner’s Inquest Begins into Son’s Death Hospital for a worsening, but initially mild, illness.
While arrangements were being made to transfer him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States, Atlantis referred him to Euracare for pre-flight diagnostic procedures, including an MRI, lumbar puncture, and insertion of a central line. The child passed away following the procedures.
His parents have alleged medical negligence and professional misconduct in connection with his death.
In a legal notice dated January 10, 2026, issued by the law firm led by Pinheiro (SAN), Adichie and her husband accused Euracare, its anaesthesiologist, and other attending medical personnel of breaching the duty of care owed to their son.
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