The Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel has suspended the Medical Director of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Lagos, Dr Tunde Majekodunmi, and two other doctors over alleged negligence in the treatment that led to the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Adichie-Esege.
The toddler was one of the twin sons of celebrated Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Ivara Esege.
Nkanu died on January 7, 2026, after a brief illness.
In a statement issued shortly after the incident, Adichie accused the hospital of negligence. She explained that her son was taken to Euracare Hospital in Lagos for an MRI scan and insertion of a central line after what initially appeared to be a common cold progressed into a serious infection.
According to her, the child was sedated with propofol for the procedure but was not adequately monitored afterwards, leading to complications including loss of responsiveness, seizures and cardiac arrest.
“He would be alive today if not for an incident at Euracare Hospital on January 6,” Adichie had stated.
Following public outrage and formal complaints, the Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel was constituted to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
After reviewing petitions, counter-affidavits and oral testimonies given under oath, the panel suspended Dr Majekodunmi, the hospital’s anaesthesiologist, Dr Titus Ogundare, and the Chief Medical Officer of Atlantis Pediatric Hospital, Dr Atinuke Uwajeh.
The suspended doctors have been barred from practising medicine in Nigeria pending the determination of their cases by 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.
