Following findings of medical negligence in the treatment of 21-month-old Nkanu Adichie-Esege, the Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel established by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria suspended Dr. Tunde Majekodunmi, the Medical Director of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, and two other physicians. On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, one of the twin boys of famous author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her spouse, Ivara Esege, passed away tragically following a brief illness.
Adichie described the event and claimed that her son's death was caused by medical malpractice. She clarified that after initially experiencing what they initially believed to be a typical cold, which subsequently "turned into a very serious infection," her son was brought to Euracare Hospital in Lagos for an MRI and the installation of a central line.
Nkanu was sedated for the treatment, but it is said that after getting propofol, he was not adequately monitored, which led to consequences like cardiac arrest, convulsions, and loss of responsiveness. "He would be alive today if it not for an incident at Euracare Hospital on January 6th," Adichie said.
Majekodunmi, the medical director of Euracare, Dr. Titus Ogundare, the hospital's anesthesiologist, and Dr. Atinuke Uwajeh, the chief medical officer of Atlantis Pediatric Hospital, were all suspended after the panel's probe. Until the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal rules on their cases, the three will not be permitted to practice medicine in Nigeria.
Ten other physicians, including Drs. Adeseye Akinsete, Chidinma Ohagwu, Anthony Ajeh, Amarachi Bayo, Nkechi Peji, Olaoye Oludare, Agaja Oyinkansola, Patricia Akintan, Babatunde Bamgboye, and Raji Faida, were also found to have a prima facie case of professional misconduct by the panel. Eight other physicians were found not guilty of any crimes.
All 21 doctors' complaints were reviewed, counter-affidavits were examined, and oral depositions under oath were taken into consideration before the decisions were made. The investigation came to an end on February 17 and 18, 2026, during the panel's 25th meeting in Abuja.
