Award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has accused a Lagos-based hospital of frustrating efforts to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of her 21-month-old son, Nknau.
Adichie alleged that Euracare Hospital has repeatedly delayed and complicated the coronial inquest into her son’s death, which occurred in January. According to her, the inquiry was initially scheduled to begin in April but has yet to make meaningful progress.
The celebrated novelist claimed that the hospital has “stalled and muddied and obfuscated” the process and has now sought an order from Nigeria’s Federal High Court to halt the inquest altogether.
The BBC reported that it contacted Euracare for a response. Meanwhile, a panel established by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria had earlier found grounds suggesting possible medical negligence on the part of the hospital.
Adichie recently made her first public comments since the death of her son by publishing on social media a letter she had written to the hospital’s director in April.
In the post, she questioned the hospital’s actions, stating: “If Euracare cares about the truth, then why create delays and distractions and now, finally, try to stop an inquest.”
She also explained her decision to make the matter public, writing: “The ultimate and utter loneliness of grief is that only you can know the true depth of your despair.
“I long for, at least, peace to mourn, but Euracare Hospital has robbed me even of that.”
In her letter, Adichie challenged the hospital’s conclusion that her son died from bacterial meningitis.
“There was no medical evidence to make such a claim on his death certificate,” she wrote.
The author and her family have accused Euracare of negligence, alleging that medical personnel denied the child oxygen and administered excessive sedation, which they believe led to cardiac arrest.
Euracare has previously expressed condolences to the family but denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the treatment provided met international medical standards.
Adichie further alleged that the hospital supplied incomplete medical records following her son’s death.
She described the documentation as “strikingly unprofessional,” adding that “one was inaccurate”.
Court filings submitted by her legal representatives indicate that Nknau was first admitted to Atlantis Hospital in Lagos with what was described as a worsening but relatively mild illness.
According to the filings, plans were already underway to transfer him to the United States for specialist treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Before the trip, however, he was referred to Euracare Hospital for pre-flight medical assessments, including an MRI scan and a lumbar puncture.
The toddler reportedly died on January 7 after undergoing the series of diagnostic procedures at Euracare.
Adichie is one of Africa’s most celebrated literary figures and the author of internationally acclaimed books including Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah. She has also participated in high-profile global discussions featuring leaders such as former United States Vice President Kamala Harris and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Although she resides in the United States, Adichie was in Nigeria during the Christmas holiday period when the incident occurred.
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