LAWYERS representing celebrated Nigerian writer, Ms Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, have formally written to Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos following the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi.

The development coincides with confirmation by the Lagos State Government that the anaesthesiologist involved in the child’s care has been suspended, as official investigations into the incident continue.

In a legal notice dated January 10, 2026, the lawyers acting for Adichie and her partner, Dr Ivara Esege, accused the hospital, its anaesthesiologist and other attending staff of failing in their duty of care to the child, who died in the early hours of Wednesday, January 7, 2026.

The notice was issued by PINHEIRO LP on behalf of the grieving parents and was signed by the firm’s founding partner, Prof Kemi Pinheiro (SAN).

According to the letter, Nnamdi was referred to Euracare on January 6, 2026, from Atlantis Pediatric Hospital to undergo a range of diagnostic and preparatory procedures. These included a brain MRI, an echocardiogram, insertion of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC line) and a lumbar puncture.

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The procedures, the solicitors said, were undertaken as part of preparations for an urgent medical evacuation to the United States, where a specialist medical team was reportedly on standby to receive the child.

They added that intravenous sedation was administered with propofol. The notice alleged that complications arose while the child was being moved to the cardiac catheterisation laboratory after the MRI scan.

Although he was sedated, the child was said to have been transported between hospital units in a manner that raised ‘serious and substantive concerns’ about adherence to standard patient-safety requirements.

He was eventually pronounced dead in the early hours of January 7, 2026. The legal notice detailed several alleged shortcomings in paediatric anaesthetic and procedural care.

Among them were questions over the suitability and cumulative dosage of propofol given the child’s critical condition, insufficient airway protection during deep sedation, and an alleged lack of continuous physiological monitoring.

The lawyers further claimed that the child was transferred without supplemental oxygen, without adequate monitoring equipment and without sufficient medical personnel accompanying him.

They also alleged deficiencies in the availability of basic resuscitation equipment, delays in identifying and responding to respiratory or cardiovascular distress, and a broader failure to comply with established paediatric anaesthesia, patient-transfer and safety standards.

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Another key issue raised was the alleged failure of the hospital to properly inform the parents of the risks and possible adverse effects of propofol and other anaesthetic agents, which they said undermined the legal requirement for informed consent.

The solicitors argued that the cumulative effect of these alleged lapses constituted prima facie breaches of the duty of care, rendering the hospital and all involved medical staff liable for medical negligence resulting in the child’s death.

As part of their next steps, the parents demanded certified copies of all medical records relating to their son’s care within 7 days of receipt of the notice.

The requested documents included admission records, consent forms, pre-anaesthetic evaluations, anaesthetic charts, medication administration logs, monitoring data, procedural notes, nursing observations, ICU records, incident reports and the names of all medical personnel involved in the child’s treatment.

They also asked for internal review documents, safety logs from the MRI suite and any other records connected to the child’s care.

In addition, the hospital was formally instructed to preserve all relevant evidence, both physical and electronic.

This included CCTV footage from procedure rooms and hospital corridors, electronic monitoring data, pharmacy and drug inventory records, emergency equipment and crash-cart logs, internal communications and any morbidity and mortality review documents.

The solicitors warned that any destruction, alteration or loss of such material after receipt of the letter would be treated as suppression of evidence and obstruction of justice, with attendant legal consequences.

The letter concluded by stating that any failure or refusal by the hospital to comply with the demands within the stipulated period would leave the parents with no option but to pursue all available legal, regulatory and judicial remedies against the hospital and the medical personnel involved.

Doctor suspended

Euracare Hospital said in a statement issued on Saturday that it had launched a thorough investigation into the incident in line with its clinical governance framework and best practices, while pledging to engage openly with relevant clinical and regulatory authorities.

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Similarly, the Lagos State Government announced on Saturday that it had commenced its own investigation, assuring the public that the full force of the law would be applied where necessary.

Providing an update on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, told The Punch in a telephone interview that the hospital had suspended the doctor involved in the child’s procedure and was cooperating fully with the state’s investigation.

Ogunyemi said, “This is an active investigation. We started yesterday (Saturday). We have visited the facility, and it is an ongoing process. The hospital is also carrying out its internal review, and from what we understand, the anaesthesiologist involved has been suspended.

“We will conduct our investigation as we do in all reported cases. When incidents are reported, we investigate. This one has attracted attention because it is in the public space.

“The Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency exists for this purpose. Because she is a public figure, the case is widely discussed, and it is very unfortunate. We are doing our best, and the hospital is also conducting its own inquiry.

“They will all be coming in tomorrow (Monday) for further interviews. As stated earlier, we will be transparent and will involve experts where required. There is a standard protocol we follow,” she said.