Court begins probe into death of author's son

A Lagos coroner has initiated proceedings for an inquiry into the death of acclaimed Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi's toddler son, who died at a hospital. The author and her husband accused the hospital of medical negligence, reports africanews. Nkanu Esege was 21-months-old when he died in early January after a worsening illness at a Euracare hospital. The toddler had been set to be transferred to the US for medical treatment, but had undergone pre-flight procedures, including an MRI and a spinal tap at a Euracare hospital. The hospital denied any wrongdoing on its part. Now, a formal inquiry has been opened into the little boy's death. Proceedings are scheduled to start on 14 April. During a preliminary court sitting, which led to a confirmation of a full hearing, counsel for the family maintained that the child's death had been unnatural and that it had resulted from medical intervention. The child was one of twin boys born to the 48-year-old novelist and her husband by surrogacy. Ngozi Adichi is also mother of a girl born in 2016.