Euracare Defends Suspended Doctors in Adichie Son’s Death Probe
Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital has publicly defended the professional conduct of its medical director and two other doctors facing interim suspension over the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, the son of renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, while raising serious concerns about procedural irregularities and confidentiality breaches during the regulatory investigation.
The Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel, established by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), issued interim suspension orders against three doctors last week after determining that medical negligence contributed to the toddler’s death on January 7, 2026. The suspended practitioners include Dr Tunde Majekodunmi, Medical Director of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Dr Titus Ogundare, also of Euracare, and Dr Atinuke Uwajeh, Chief Medical Officer at Atlantis Pediatric Hospital.
In a statement released on Wednesday and reported by ARISE News, Euracare acknowledged the regulatory actions while expressing unwavering confidence in the affected members of its clinical team.
“Our attention has been drawn to widespread media reports concerning the interim suspension orders and other findings issued by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel against thirteen doctors, two of whom are our clinical staff members, in connection with the ongoing proceedings relating to the death of Master Nkanu Nnamdi Esege,” the hospital said.
The facility moved to contextualise the professional standing of its suspended personnel, emphasising their cumulative experience and track record within Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
“We, however, wish to place on record our confidence in the professionalism and integrity of our clinical team. Dr Tosin Majekodunmi and Dr Titus Ogundare are experienced professionals whose records of service to patients in Nigeria span many years,” the statement read.
“Both doctors have, in their respective careers, contributed meaningfully to the delivery of quality healthcare to Nigerian patients at a standard comparable to what is obtainable in the world’s leading medical facilities,” the hospital added, disclosing that it had conducted an internal review of the clinical events in accordance with established clinical governance standards and best practices.
While defending its staff, Euracare deviated from a simple rebuttal of the negligence findings by highlighting what it described as significant procedural lapses that characterised the investigation process.
“We are also compelled to draw attention to a number of serious concerns that have arisen in the course of these proceedings. It is our position that certain established processes and protocols have not been followed in the manner required,” the hospital stated.
Of particular concern to the facility was the apparent unauthorised disclosure of sensitive information relating to the case. The hospital alleged that matters protected by patient and institutional confidentiality had entered the public domain through channels outside the formal investigative process.
“We have further noted, with deep concern, that matters covered by patient and institutional confidentiality appear to have been disclosed outside the appropriate channels, and we consider this a serious breach that cannot go unaddressed,” the statement said.
The hospital underscored its commitment to fundamental legal principles while signalling its intention to pursue the matter through formal channels.
“We wish to state that we stand by the principles of equality, fairness, and good governance. Every party in this matter, including our institution and our staff, is entitled to a process that is conducted with rigour, impartiality, and respect for the rules that govern it. We will be raising these concerns through the appropriate legal and regulatory channels,” Euracare said.
The Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel arrived at its decisions following a comprehensive review of complaints surrounding the treatment provided to Nkanu Esege. The panel examined submissions including complaints, counter-affidavits, and oral depositions made under oath from all 21 medical practitioners whose conduct was under scrutiny.
The panel determined that medical negligence contributed to the death of the toddler, who was one of twin sons of Adichie and her husband, Ivara Esege. The novelist, known internationally for works including “Half of a Yellow Sun” and “Americanah,” has not publicly commented on the proceedings.
Beyond the three suspended doctors, the panel found prima facie cases of professional misconduct against ten other practitioners involved in the case. Eight additional doctors were cleared of any wrongdoing following the panel’s review.
The interim suspensions bar Dr Majekodunmi, Dr Ogundare, and Dr Uwajeh from practising medicine in Nigeria pending the final determination of their cases by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. The tribunal’s eventual ruling will determine whether the suspensions become permanent and what sanctions, if any, will be imposed.
The suspensions represent one of the most high-profile regulatory actions by the MDCN in recent years, drawing attention to the mechanisms governing medical practice and accountability in Nigeria’s healthcare system. The Medical and Dental Practitioners Act Cap M8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, establishes the legal framework for the council’s disciplinary functions, empowering the Investigation Panel to examine complaints and the Disciplinary Tribunal to adjudicate on matters of professional misconduct.
The MDCN’s disciplinary structure operates through a two-tier system designed to ensure both thorough investigation and fair adjudication. The Investigation Panel, composed of council members, determines whether prima facie cases exist to warrant formal proceedings before the Disciplinary Tribunal, which possesses the authority to impose sanctions ranging from admonition to outright removal from the medical register.
Previous high-profile cases before the tribunal have resulted in varying outcomes. In 2019, the tribunal suspended a Lagos-based consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist for six months for negligence in a maternal death case. In 2021, two doctors were permanently struck off the register following the death of a patient during a cosmetic surgery procedure in Lagos. More recently, in 2024, the tribunal handed down suspensions ranging from three months to one year to four doctors found guilty of professional misconduct in separate cases.
The current proceedings against the 21 doctors represent one of the largest single-case reviews in the council’s history, reflecting both the complexity of the clinical circumstances surrounding Nkanu Esege’s death and the number of practitioners involved in his care across multiple facilities.
Amid the ongoing regulatory contest, Euracare extended condolences to the bereaved family, acknowledging the profound nature of their loss.
“We continue to empathise with the family of Master Nkanu Nnamdi Esege. The loss of a child is a grief without measure, and we carry that awareness in everything we say and do in relation to this matter,” the hospital’s statement said.
The case has attracted significant public attention, not only due to the prominence of Adichie as an internationally celebrated literary figure but also because of the questions it raises about medical accountability, patient safety, and the regulatory oversight of healthcare delivery in Nigeria. The coming months will see the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal examine the evidence and determine whether the suspended doctors and those facing misconduct findings will face formal sanctions.