The controversy surrounding the tragic death of 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, son of acclaimed Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband Dr. Ivara Esege, has intensified with a pointed rebuttal from the child’s aunt, Dr. Anthea Esege Nwandu.

Dr. Nwandu, a dual board-certified Internal Medicine physician with over 30 years of clinical experience in Nigeria and the United States—including board certifications from the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine, fellowship in the American College of Physicians, and a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health—has publicly challenged the January 10, 2026, statement issued by Euracare Multispecialist Hospital in Lagos, where the toddler died on January 7 following a brief illness.

The child had been receiving treatment at Atlantis Hospital for what began as a suspected cold but developed into a serious infection. He was described as medically stable and scheduled for evacuation to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for further care when referred to Euracare for an MRI scan and central line insertion on January 6.

In her detailed rebuttal, Dr. Nwandu directly addressed what she described as significant falsehoods in Euracare’s statement, which expressed condolences while asserting that circulated reports contained inaccuracies, that the child arrived critically ill after treatment at two pediatric centers, and that care adhered to international standards.

Dr. Nwandu countered key claims as follows:

• Euracare’s assertion that the child had received care at two pediatric centers was false; he had been at only one hospital (Atlantis) prior to Euracare.
• On adherence to international standards: She alleged multiple breaches, including failure to provide continuous oxygen therapy during sedation (a requirement for children on oxygen), lack of continuous monitoring of blood oxygen levels, pulse, and respiration, and no resuscitative equipment (such as an Ambu bag) during transfers within the hospital.
• She questioned the accuracy of any documentation regarding the timing or duration of respiratory or cardiac arrest due to absent monitoring.
• Specific practices were criticized as non-standard, including an anesthesiologist carrying the post-sedation child on his shoulder without visual oversight or monitoring, insisting on being alone in the elevator with the child, and disconnecting oxygen during transfer to the ICU.

Dr. Nwandu emphasized that these alleged lapses occurred despite the child’s stability and planned international transfer, describing them as deviations from protocols that could have contributed to the fatal outcome.

Euracare’s January 10 statement expressed “deepest sympathies” for the “profound and unimaginable loss,” denied negligence, noted an ongoing internal investigation, and highlighted collaborative care with external teams. The hospital has described the child as critically ill upon arrival and maintained that all actions followed established protocols.

The case has drawn widespread attention, with Lagos State authorities launching an independent investigation into the circumstances, amid broader scrutiny of medical standards in Nigeria. The Nigerian Society of Anaesthetists is also monitoring developments.

The family, including Adichie, has expressed devastation and called for accountability to prevent future tragedies. Nkanu was one of twin boys born to the couple via surrogacy in 2024. Public figures, including Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, have offered condolences as the matter continues to unfold.

Chimamanda Ngozi AAdichie has revealed how her son was killed at Euracare Hospital by an anesthesiologist, in her statement, she said: “My son would be alive today if not for an incident at Euracare Hospital on January 6th.We were in Lagos for Christmas.

Nkanu had what we first thought was just a cold, but soon turned into a very serious infection and he was admitted to Atlantis hospital. He was to travel to the US the next day, January 7th, accompanied by Travelling Doctors. A team at Johns Hopkins was waiting to receive him in Baltimore.

The Hopkins team had asked for a lumbar puncture test and an MRI. The Nigerian team had also decided to put in a ‘central line’ (used to administer iv medications) in preparation for Nkanu’s flight. Atlantis hospital referred us to Euracare Hospital, which was said to be the best place to have the procedures done.

The morning of the 6th, we left Atlantis hospital for Euracare, Nkanu carried in his father’s arms. We were told he would need to be sedated to prevent him from moving during the MRI and the ‘central line’ procedure.

I was waiting just outside the theater. I saw people, including Dr M, rushing into the theater and immediately knew something had happened.

A short time later, Dr M came out and told me Nkanu had been given too much propofol by the anesthesiologist, had become unresponsive and was quickly resuscitated.

But suddenly Nkanu was on a ventilator, he was intubated and placed in the ICU. The next thing I heard was that he had seizures. Cardiac arrest. All these had never happened before. Some hours later, Nkanu was goneIt turns out that Nkanu was NEVER monitored after being given too much propofol.

The anesthesiologist had just casually carried Nkanu on his shoulder to the theater, so nobody knows when exactly Nkanu became unresponsive. How can you sedate a sick child and neglect to

monitor him? Later, after the ‘central line’ procedure, the anesthesiologist casually switched off Nkanu’s oxygen and again decided to carry him on his shoulder to the ICU!

The anesthesiologist was CRIMINALLY negligent. He was fatally casual and careless with the precious life of a child. No proper protocol was followed. We brought in a child who was unwell but stable and scheduled to travel the next day. We came to conduct basic procedures.

And suddenly, our beautiful little boy was gone forever. It is like living your worst nightmare. I will never survive the loss of my child.

We have now heard about two previous cases of this same anesthesiologist overdosing children. Why did Euracare allow him to keep working? This must never happen to another child.

The Lagos State Government has announced that installations of truck barriers at Fadeyi inward Donmanlong and Donmanlong inward Ojuelegba will takes effect from Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 10pm until Sunday, January 11, 2026

Therefore, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, urges motorists to use alternative routes during the installations period.

He said that the temporary closure of the bridge is to enhance road safety and prevent accidents along these high-traffic routes.

Consequently, Motorists are advised to use the highlighted route during the nighttime installation of the barriers; Motorists from Fadeyi Donmanlong Bridge/Ayilara inbound Ojuelegba are to make use of the Service Lane from Fadeyi/Jibowu/Empire/Donmanlong to link Barracks to access their desired destinations,” he said.

He implored residents and motorists to remain patient, noting that the installation was scheduled for night hours to minimize disruptions.

The Commissioner warned that motorists who vandalize or damage the barriers will face the wrath of the law.