Three Doctors Suspended as Medical Council Probes Death of Chimamanda Adichie’s Son

Nigeria’s medical regulatory authority has taken the rare and serious step of suspending three senior doctors while it investigates the circumstances surrounding the death of Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, the 21-month-old son of globally renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege. The decision comes after a formal complaint and preliminary findings by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel, a body of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), which has determined there is sufficient evidence to consider allegations of medical negligence and professional misconduct in the toddler’s care.

The trio of doctors now suspended includes Dr. Tunde Majekodunmi, Medical Director of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos; Dr. Titus Ogundare, an anaesthesiologist at the same facility; and Dr. Atinuke Uwajeh, Chief Medical Officer of Atlantis Paediatric Hospital. All three have been barred from practising medicine in Nigeria pending the outcome of formal proceedings before the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.

The Council’s Investigative Panel, which held its 25th session in Abuja on February 17 and 18, concluded that there was a prima facie case of negligence against the doctors after reviewing complaints, counter-affidavits and oral testimonies related to the tragic incident. The panel also identified evidence of professional misconduct involving ten additional doctors from one of the hospitals, though eight of the 21 practitioners examined were cleared of wrongdoing.

The suspension is part of a broader probe into the death, which occurred on January 7, 2026, after Nkanu was referred from Atlantis Paediatric Hospital to Euracare for diagnostic and preparatory procedures ahead of a planned medical evacuation to the United States. Those procedures reportedly included an MRI scan and other tests under sedation, after which the child experienced complications and later died.

In addition to the action taken by the medical council, a coroner’s inquest into the toddler’s death has been scheduled to begin on April 14 at Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, following earlier steps by the family and Lagos State government to initiate legal examination of the case. Separately, the family issued a legal notice in January accusing the facilities and personnel involved of failing in their duty of care during Nkanu’s treatment.

The MDCN has emphasised that while a prima facie case has been established, the suspensions and findings do not yet constitute a final determination of liability. The doctors involved are entitled to a full hearing before the Disciplinary Tribunal, where evidence will be examined and a final decision rendered. Council officials have said they will ensure the disciplinary process adheres to regulatory guidelines, and further proceedings are expected to unfold in the coming weeks.

The high-profile nature of the case has drawn national attention and sparked public debate about medical standards, patient safety and accountability within Nigeria’s private healthcare sector. Families, medical professionals and public figures have closely watched developments, as the regulatory process now moves toward its next crucial phase.

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