Breaking News: Sanwo-Olu Orders Probe as Chimamanda’s Son’s Death Sparks National Outrage

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Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Saturday ordered a full-scale investigation over the death of one of the twin sons of award-winning Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie, who died in a private health facility in Lagos.

The 21-month-old twin son, Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, passed away on January 6, 2026, after a brief illness.

Reacting to the death and concerns raised by the author, the state government said, “The attention of the Lagos State government has been drawn to the deeply distressing report by renowned Nigerian author, Ms Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, concerning the tragic death of her son, Nkanu, following a medical incident at a private healthcare facility in Lagos on January 6.

“On behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, the Lagos State government commiserates sincerely with Ms. Chimamanda Adichie and her family over this painful and irreparable loss. The death of a child is a profound tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this extremely difficult time. Lagos State government extends its heartfelt condolences and assures the family of its concern and commitment to justice.

“The Lagos State Government places the highest value on human life and maintains zero tolerance for medical negligence or unprofessional conduct in any health facility operating within the State.

“In line with this commitment, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) to immediately commence a thorough, independent, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, with a view to unraveling the immediate and remote causes of the death.

“In line with this directive, HEFAMAA has since commenced investigation and has visited the facility involved as part of the ongoing inquiry. The Agency will conduct a comprehensive review of all allegations and reports relating to the incident.

HEFAMAA, which is statutorily established to regulate, monitor, and accredit both public and private health facilities in Lagos State, also, as part of its core mandate, carries out routine investigation of all cases of alleged medical negligence and unethical practices. This statutory responsibility is exercised consistently to uphold patient safety, professional standards, and the quality of health service delivery across the State.

“The agency will work in close collaboration with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and other relevant regulatory bodies in the course of the investigation to ensure a holistic, credible, and professional review process.

“The investigation will examine the allegations raised, including compliance with established clinical protocols, professional conduct, patient safety standards, and the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved. Findings of the investigation will be made public as soon as the process is concluded, in the interest of transparency and public accountability.’

The state government, in a statement signed by the adviser to the governor on Health, Lagos State, Dr (Mrs) Kemi Ogunyemi, assured the public that any individual or institution found culpable of negligence, professional misconduct, or regulatory violations will face the full wrath of the law, in accordance with existing legal and regulatory frameworks.

“While the investigation is ongoing, the government urges the public to remain calm and avoid speculation, as due process is being followed to ensure fairness, justice, and credibility of outcomes.

“Lagos State remains committed to safeguarding the health, safety, and rights of all residents and to continuously strengthening oversight of medical practice to prevent the recurrence of such tragic incidents. Once again, we extend our deepest condolences to Ms Chimamanda Adichie and her family.”

The chairman, Lagos Chapter Nigerian Medical association (NMA), Dr Babajide Saheed said, “We don’t have details of the whole matter as of now. What we will do as NMA is to investigate the case because there are a lot of cases like that that I see on social media. And we have too many people, instead of going to social media, there are ways you can address your issue.

“You can go to the Seeker at the association level, Nigerian Medical Association, or go to the MDCN. I think the best thing is to go to the association of such people. If the association looks at you and you are not satisfied, you cannot go to the MDCN.

“I think the issue of social media for me, for us, has to stop. There are means you get grievances known. But now, I don’t have much information about it. The only thing I can say is that NMA, we try to write to the hospital. If we can get the address of the complainer, try to get their address and try to investigate the matter, and the accused. So by this we have to be fair to both parties, and both parties should get justice.

“But as of now, we don’t have much information. And what you see is read on social media, and you know you can’t depend on what you read on social media.

“We will get in touch with the hospital. And also if the aggrieved person can even write NMA or get in contact with NMA, it makes it easier for us to invite the two parties. And we now try to investigate it.

That’s what we have to do. But as of now, we don’t have much information. The only thing we can do is to investigate. Get in contact with the hospital. And you can also get in contact with the bereaved group. And you can get in contact with them. And we need to investigate it.

“We cannot make pronouncements until we hear from both sides.

That’s what we tell the journalists also to do is to hear from both sides before bringing anything out.

“For now we can say that NMA will investigate the case and give the two parties fair hearing. We will find out where the problem is. Is it from the hospital side? Is it a systemic problem? Did they do what they’re supposed to have done? And have they done what they’re supposed to have done. Or did the death just come from the complication or anything? Therefore, we cannot be able to say until we investigate.”

The author had in a statement circulating on social media on Saturday, and confirmed by Adichie’s representative, Omawumi Ogbe, accused Euracare Hospital in Lagos of negligence over the death of her son.

The author alleged that her son would have been alive if not for what she described as “criminal negligence” at Euracare Hospital.

She said her family was in Lagos for Christmas when Nkanu developed what initially appeared to be a cold but later became a serious infection.

Adichie said the toddler was admitted to Atlantis Hospital and scheduled to travel to the US the following day, January 7, accompanied by travelling doctors, with a medical team at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore on standby to receive him.

According to her, the Johns Hopkins team requested a lumbar puncture and an MRI, while the Nigerian medical team decided to insert a central line in preparation for the flight.

She added that Atlantis Hospital referred the family to Euracare for the procedures.

She said Nkanu was sedated on the morning of January 6 to prevent movement during the MRI and central line procedure.

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

“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 gone.

“It 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.”

Adichie alleged that the anaesthesiologist was, “criminally negligent, fatally casual and careless with the precious life of a child.”

She said the family has since learned of two previous cases involving the same anaesthesiologist overdosing children at the facility.

She questioned why Euracare Hospital allowed the doctor to continue practising, saying the incident, “must never happen to another child.”

Omawumi Ogbe, Adichie’s representative, confirmed to journalists that the author shared the account with a closed circle of family and friends and did not intend for it to be made public.

“While we are saddened that such a deeply personal account of grief and trauma was leaked, the details therein highlight the devastating clinical failures the family is now forced to confront,” Ogbe said.

She added that the family hoped the focus remained on “the gross medical negligence that led to this tragedy” as they sought accountability.

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