By Mick Oseji, Asaba
Award-winning Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has publicly accused Abuja-based Euracare Hospital of negligence and obstruction in the aftermath of the death of her son, Nkanu Nnamdi, declaring that her family will continue its pursuit of justice despite what she described as attempts to frustrate efforts to uncover the truth.
In an emotional statement released publicly on Saturday evening, Adichie recounted the devastating grief she has endured since losing her son, saying the pain remains overwhelming and inescapable.
“I wake up every single morning with my heart racing. Did this really happen? My precious son, Nkanu Nnamdi. My KanKan, my diokpala,” she wrote.
Describing grief as a deeply personal burden, the celebrated novelist added: “The ultimate and utter loneliness of grief is that only you can know the true depth of your despair.”
Adichie, who is the Odelu Uwa of Oba Kingdom in Anambra State, said she had initially sought privacy to mourn her loss but claimed the conduct of Euracare Hospital had made that impossible.
“I long for, at least, peace to mourn, but Euracare Hospital has robbed me even of that,” she said.
Explaining her decision to make her concerns public, Adichie said remaining silent would amount to condoning wrongdoing.
“I have decided to make this letter public because to keep silent about Euracare’s evil is to enable it,” she stated.
The author stressed that her intention was not to incite hostility against individuals mentioned in her correspondence, noting that she had removed certain names while retaining others “for clarity and credibility.”
According to Adichie, Euracare itself initially requested a coroner’s inquest into her son’s death in January, citing concerns over “rumours of negligence” and asserting that a public inquiry would be in the hospital’s interest.
“It was Euracare which first applied for an inquest in January, stating that our son’s death was unexpected and an inquest was in their interest because of ‘rumours of negligence,’” she said.
However, she accused the medical facility of subsequently frustrating the process.
“Yet they have stalled and muddied and obfuscated. If this is how Euracare manages a crisis, it is little wonder it mismanaged our precious son’s care,” she alleged.
Adichie further claimed that the hospital has now approached a High Court in a bid to halt the inquest proceedings, a move she described as contradictory and suspicious.
“Most egregiously, Euracare is now asking a High Court to stop the inquest,” she said.
Highlighting the purpose of an inquest, she argued that the process was not intended to assign blame or seek financial compensation but simply to establish the facts surrounding a death.
“An inquest is a public judicial inquiry designed to establish the circumstances surrounding a death. It is not a trial. It is not a claim for damages. It is simply a search for the truth,” she said.
Questioning the hospital’s motives, Adichie added: “If Euracare cares about the truth, then why create delays and distractions and now, finally, try to stop an inquest?”
The novelist also revealed what she described as an unsettling message allegedly conveyed to her family by a senior figure connected to the hospital’s ownership.
According to her, the individual told a relative: “I admire and respect Chimamanda so much that I don’t want her to go to court because her name may be dragged in the mud and bad things may be said about her since court cases are about winning and anybody would do anything to win.”
Adichie interpreted the remark as both manipulative and threatening.
“What a manipulative and implicitly threatening message to send to a parent whose child died in your hospital,” she wrote.
Despite the warning, she insisted that neither she nor her family would be deterred from seeking accountability.
“But this threatener does not know how fiercely we love our child. They can drag all they wish in the mud, but our quest for justice will continue,” she declared.
The acclaimed writer concluded by expressing gratitude to supporters around the world who have offered condolences and encouragement during the difficult period.
“I am deeply grateful to all of the people from across the world who have genuinely wished us well. May you find comfort in your own time of need. Please continue to pray for us. This weight is too heavy,” she said.
The allegations have added a new dimension to the controversy surrounding the circumstances of Nkanu Nnamdi’s death, with attention now focused on the ongoing legal dispute over the proposed inquest and efforts to establish the facts surrounding the tragic incident.
