Nigerian author accuses hospital of stalling review into her son's death

Prominent Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has accused a hospital in Lagos of obstructing an inquest into the circumstances surrounding her baby son's death.

A coronial inquest into the death of her 21-month-old son, Nknau, at Euracare hospital in January had been due to start in April, Aidichie said.

The author now alleges that Euracare has "stalled and muddied and obfuscated" over the inquest and has requested Nigeria's Federal High Court block the inquiry.

The BBC has approached Euracare for comment. An investigation panel set up by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria had previously found a possible case of medical negligence against the hospital.

Adichie recently published a letter on social media which she had sent to the hospital's director in April.

It was her first public comment since the death of her son, who was one of twin boys born in 2024, using a surrogate.

"If Euracare cares about the truth, then why create delays and distractions and now, finally, try to stop an inquest," she wrote in her post.

Explaining why she posted the letter, she wrote: "The ultimate and utter loneliness of grief is that only you can know the true depth of your despair.