- The Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel has suspended three senior medical practitioners following the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Adichie-Esege, son of world-renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
- Dr. Tunde Majekodunmi (Medical Director, Euracare), Dr. Titus Ogundare (Anesthesiologist, Euracare), and Dr. Atinuke Uwajeh (Chief Medical Officer, Atlantis Pediatric Hospital) are suspended from practice pending the tribunal’s final determination.
- The panel established a prima facie case of medical negligence regarding the child’s management during diagnostic procedures in January 2026.
The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has suspended three high-ranking doctors following an investigation into the tragic death of Nkanu Adichie-Esege.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Nkanu, the 21-month-old son of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr. Ivara Esege, passed away on January 7, 2026, after complications arose during medical procedures at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos.
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The panel’s decision, signed by Secretary Dr. Enejo Abdu, came after a two-day session in Abuja where the conduct of 21 doctors was scrutinized.
The investigation focused on the child’s transfer from Atlantis Pediatric Hospital to Euracare for pre-flight diagnostic procedures, including an MRI and central line insertion, ahead of a planned emergency medical evacuation to the United States.
The panel found that Dr. Tunde Majekodunmi, Dr. Titus Ogundare, and Dr. Atinuke Uwajeh had a prima facie case of negligence to answer, leading to their immediate removal from medical practice until the Disciplinary Tribunal reaches a final verdict.
Beyond the three primary suspensions, the regulatory body also identified 10 other doctors for professional misconduct, while clearing eight others of wrongdoing.
The Adichie-Esege family had previously alleged serious breaches in the duty of care, specifically citing concerns over sedation dosing, airway management, and the lack of adequate resuscitation equipment during the toddler’s transport within the facility.
The case has drawn significant public attention to the standards of pediatric care and medical emergency protocols in Nigeria’s top-tier private hospitals.
As the affected practitioners step away from their clinical duties, the focus now shifts to the Yaba Magistrate Court, where a formal coroner’s inquest is scheduled to begin on April 14, 2026.
This parallel legal proceeding aims to provide a transparent account of the events leading to the child’s death, as the medical community and the public await the final adjudication from the Disciplinary Tribunal.
