Judiciary
April 14 Set for Coroner’s Probe into Death of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 21-Month-Old Son
The Coroner’s Court sitting at the Yaba Magistrate Court in Lagos has fixed April 14, 2026, to commence an inquest into the death of Master Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, the 21-month-old son of acclaimed Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr. Ivara Esege.
Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji adjourned the matter to the said date when it came up on Wednesday, noting that the court would begin hearing evidence from all parties involved.
The child died on January 7, 2026, after receiving treatment at Atlantis Hospital and undergoing medical procedures at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos. He was initially admitted to Atlantis Hospital for what was described as a worsening but initially mild illness.
The court heard that plans were underway to transfer him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States for further care. However, he was referred to Euracare for pre-flight diagnostic procedures, including an MRI, lumbar puncture and insertion of a central line. He reportedly passed away following the procedures.
His parents have alleged medical negligence and professional misconduct in connection with his death.
At the proceedings, Professor Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) appeared for the family, while Adebola Rahman represented the Attorney-General of Lagos State. Prof. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe of Health Ethics and Law Consulting appeared for Atlantis Hospital, while Euracare was also represented.
Magistrate Adetunji disclosed that the court received an application from the Chief Coroner of Lagos State following a request by the Attorney-General that an inquest be conducted into the circumstances surrounding the death.
She stated that the Lagos State Government considers itself affected by the incident and explained that the preliminary session was convened to determine whether a formal inquest would proceed.
The magistrate directed all parties to file their witness statements before the next adjourned date and emphasised that the purpose of the inquest is to determine the cause of death. She added that an autopsy is generally the starting point in such proceedings, as it provides a professional medical report to guide the court.
Pinheiro urged the court to proceed with the hearing, maintaining that the parents believe their son’s death was unnatural and occurred during medical intervention.
He said the family intends to present evidence alleging gross medical negligence, possible overdose, wrongful prescription, improper administration of propofol and wrongful diagnosis.
According to him, the family plans to call five independent medical experts, including an anaesthesiologist, a paediatric anaesthesia specialist, a radiologist, an intensivist and the child’s father, who is also a medical doctor.
He also urged the court to direct Euracare to preserve all physical and electronic evidence from January 6, 2026, including CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data, pharmacy records, emergency equipment logs, internal communications and morbidity and mortality reviews.
While suggesting that Euracare should open its case at the inquest, Pinheiro proposed that the family present its case next, followed by Atlantis Hospital. The magistrate ruled that Euracare would proceed first, after which the family and then Atlantis would present their cases.
Counsel to Atlantis Hospital informed the court that the hospital would present its account of events and noted that she only became aware of the proceedings after receiving a letter a day earlier.
The Attorney-General’s representative told the court that following reports of the child’s death, the state government applied for an inquest and urged the court to commence hearing since all parties were present.
In a legal notice dated January 10, 2026, the parents accused Euracare, its anaesthesiologist and other attending personnel of breaching the duty of care owed to their son.
The notice alleged that complications arose after intravenous sedation with propofol and during the child’s transfer to the cardiac catheterisation laboratory following an MRI.
It cited concerns over cumulative dosing of propofol in a critically ill child, inadequate airway protection during deep sedation, failure to ensure continuous physiological monitoring, transfer without supplemental oxygen or adequate monitoring, insufficient accompanying medical personnel, alleged unavailability of basic resuscitation equipment, delayed recognition and management of respiratory or cardiovascular distress, and non-compliance with established paediatric anaesthesia and patient-transfer safety standards.
The matter was adjourned until April 14, 2026, for the commencement of the inquest.
More than two decades after the death of Nigeria’s former First Lady, Stella Obasanjo, a court in Spain has sentenced the cosmetic surgeon responsible for the procedure that led to her passing.
Mrs. Obasanjo, wife of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, died on October 23, 2005, in Marbella, Spain. She had undergone a liposuction procedure at a private medical facility known as the Molding Clinic. What was expected to be a straightforward cosmetic treatment quickly turned fatal.
Fatal Surgical Error
According to court findings, the operating surgeon, Antonio Mena, improperly inserted a surgical cannula far deeper than required during the procedure. Instead of remaining within the fat layer beneath the skin, the instrument penetrated Mrs. Obasanjo’s abdominal cavity.
Prosecutors argued that the mistake caused extensive internal damage, including injuries to vital organs. Medical experts who testified described the technique used as reckless and inconsistent with accepted medical standards. They further stated that warning signs of complications were either overlooked or not addressed promptly.
During the trial, the prosecution maintained that the operation was conducted without the necessary caution and professional care expected in such procedures.
After a prolonged legal battle that spanned years of investigations and appeals, the Spanish court found Mena guilty of professional misconduct leading to death. He was handed a prison sentence and prohibited from practising medicine for a specified duration.
In its judgment, the court ruled that the surgeon breached his duty of care, emphasizing that the fatal outcome resulted from avoidable surgical errors.
The sudden death of Mrs. Obasanjo in 2005 triggered widespread mourning in Nigeria and sparked debate about medical tourism and patient safety abroad, particularly for high-profile individuals.
At the time, the Nigerian government described her passing as a profound national loss. Many Nigerians viewed the tragedy as both personal and symbolic.
Now, 21 years later, the court’s decision shows a significant legal conclusion to a case that once captured national and international attention.
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ikoyi, on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, arraigned a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria Edetanle, before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, over alleged fraud involving $385,000 and ₦165,438,000.00.
Edetanle was docked on a seven-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office, money laundering and unlawful enrichment by a public official.
According to the commission, the alleged offences contravene Sections 332(1) and 332(3), Section 73(1), and Section 82(c) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
One of the counts alleged that Edetanle, while serving as Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation between May 29, 2024 and September 11, 2024, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of the court, committed money laundering by transferring a cumulative sum of $205,000 from his domiciliary account domiciled in Access Bank Plc (account number 0010069159), said to be proceeds of unlawful activities, to the bank account of Ehimen Richard Okhiria domiciled in ABN AMRO Bank, Netherlands, with account number NL38ABNA011257662.
Another count alleged that after leaving office as Managing Director of the NRC, between October 21, 2024 and November 21, 2024, Edetanle transferred a cumulative sum of $40,000 from his domiciliary account in Access Bank Plc to the same ABN AMRO Bank account in the Netherlands, said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him in court.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammad, SAN, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial.
Counsel to the defendant, Adebowale Kamoru, however, informed the court that he had just been served with the charge and requested a short adjournment to enable him to file a bail application.
After hearing both parties, Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter till May 13, 14 and 15, 2026 for commencement of trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in a maximum correctional facility pending the determination of his bail application.
The arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged cybercrime and breach of national security was on Wednesday stalled after the Department of State Services (DSS) failed to produce him in court.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the DSS, Oluwole Aladejoye, informed Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that the defendant remained in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC), where he is reportedly being investigated for alleged misappropriation of funds.
Following the development, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until April 23 for arraignment.
El-Rufai is facing a three-count charge bordering on the alleged unlawful interception of phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, in violation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act.
He is also accused of deploying technical systems capable of compromising public safety and national security, and allegedly instilling public apprehension, contrary to provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act.
The charges stem from comments reportedly made by the former governor during a February 13 interview on Arise News, in which he claimed to have knowledge of intercepted phone communications involving the National Security Adviser, allegedly revealing a planned attempt to arrest him.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the DSS nor the ICPC had issued an official statement on the matter.