Chimamanda Adichie Accuses Lagos Hospital of Criminal Negligence in Son's Death

Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has publicly disclosed that medical negligence at a hospital in Lagos led to the tragic death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi.

Nkanu, one of her twin boys (born via surrogacy in 2024), passed away on January 7, 2026, after a brief illness.

The family was in Lagos for Christmas when the child initially developed what seemed like a mild cold, which escalated into a serious infection. He was admitted to Atlantis Hospital and was scheduled to be medically evacuated to the United States the next day for advanced treatment at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, with preparations including an MRI, lumbar puncture, and insertion of a central line.On January 6, 2026, he was referred to Euracare Multispecialist Hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos, for these procedures. 

READ ALSO: Ashabi Simple Opens Up About Toxic Love with Portable

According to a detailed statement from Adichie, which wass originally shared privately with family and close friends, later confirmed by her media team and widely reported, the anesthesiologist administered an excessive dose of propofol (a sedative) without proper monitoring afterward. The child became unresponsive due to the overdose.

He was resuscitated but deteriorated rapidly, requiring intubation, ventilation, ICU admission, seizures, and cardiac arrest-complications that had not occurred before.

The anesthesiologist allegedly carried the sedated child casually on his shoulder, with no monitoring and later switched off the child's oxygen while transporting him in a similar manner. 

The hospital, Euracare, has reportedly rejected the allegations of negligence in a public response.