Lagos, Nigeria — Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has accused a Lagos-based private hospital, Euracare, of obstructing an official inquest into the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu. According to Adichie, a coronial inquest into the circumstances surrounding her son’s death at Euracare Hospital in January was scheduled to begin in April. However, she alleges that the hospital has delayed the process and is attempting to prevent the inquiry from taking place. In a public statement shared on social media, Adichie claimed that Euracare had “stalled and muddied and obfuscated” the investigation and had sought intervention from Nigeria’s Federal High Court to halt the inquest. The author recently published a letter she sent to the hospital’s director in April, marking her first public remarks since the tragic loss of her son, one of twin boys born in 2024 through surrogacy. “If Euracare cares about the truth, then why create delays and distractions and now, finally, try to stop an inquest?” Adichie wrote. She added that the hospital’s actions had intensified her grief, saying: “I long for, at least, peace to mourn, but Euracare Hospital has robbed me even of that.” Adichie also questioned the hospital’s assertion that her son died from bacterial meningitis, arguing that there was no medical evidence to support such a conclusion on the death certificate. The author and her family have accused the hospital of medical negligence, alleging that doctors failed to provide oxygen when needed and administered excessive sedation, which they claim led to cardiac arrest. Euracare has expressed condolences to the family but has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that its medical care complied with international standards. In her letter, Adichie further criticized the hospital for allegedly providing incomplete and inaccurate medical records, describing the documentation as “strikingly unprofessional.” Court documents submitted by Adichie’s legal team state that Nkanu was initially admitted to Atlantis Hospital in Lagos with what was described as a worsening but relatively mild illness. Plans were reportedly underway to transfer him to the United States for specialized treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Before the transfer, Nkanu was referred to Euracare for pre-flight medical assessments, including an MRI scan and a lumbar puncture. He died on January 7 after undergoing the diagnostic procedures. The case has attracted significant public attention, particularly after a Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria investigation panel reportedly found a possible case of medical negligence against the hospital. Adichie is one of Africa’s most celebrated contemporary writers, known for internationally acclaimed novels such as Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah. She currently resides in the United States but was visiting Nigeria during the Christmas holiday period when the incident occurred. The inquest is expected to play a crucial role in determining the exact circumstances surrounding Nkanu’s death and whether any medical negligence occurred.