Legal representatives for Abuja-based fertility doctor Dr. John Abebe have rejected recent media reports asserting that the Federal Government filed a fresh criminal charge against him, clarifying that the proceedings involve an amended charge filed months ago in an already pending case. According to a public statement issued on August 13, 2026, by the law firm Deji Adeyanju & Partners, the ongoing legal action is part of an existing matter before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Defense Team Disputes Fresh Charges
The public statement from Deji Adeyanju & Partners addressed reports that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation filed a new criminal case over allegations of fraud, unlawful disclosure of confidential medical records, and the alleged sale of a couple’s embryos. The legal team stated that no new criminal case has been instituted against Dr. Abebe, according to documentation cited in their August 13 release.
Instead, the defense lawyers explained that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation assumed prosecution of the existing case—marked as Charge No. CR/005/26—from the Nigeria Police Force several months prior. Following that transition, an amended charge was submitted within the already active judicial proceedings. The firm maintained that amending charges is standard procedural practice when the Attorney-General takes over a prosecution and does not equate to opening a fresh criminal file.
Court Proceedings and Case History
The pending case, designated as CR/005/2026, names Dr. John Abebe alongside Joje Abebe Fertility Centre Limited and Balkis Olanike Bakare as defendants. The nominal complainants in the matter are Mr. Adamu Hassan Turaki and his wife, Mrs. Mary Manga Turaki.
Defense counsel noted that the development regarding the amended charge coincided with a petition filed by principal nominal complainant Adamu Hassan Turaki. According to the law firm, Turaki petitioned the Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory to request the reassignment of the case to a different trial judge, citing a lack of confidence in the assigned judge despite trial proceedings not yet commencing and Dr. Abebe having recently secured bail.
The defense team emphasized that no formal applications regarding the amended charge have been made or granted by the court. Furthermore, Dr. Abebe has yet to enter a plea on the amended charge, and the court has adjourned further proceedings in the matter until November 2026.
Concerns Over Media Coverage
In their statement, Deji Adeyanju & Partners criticized the characterization of the amended filings in recent news coverage, accusing unnamed individuals and organizations of orchestrating a media trial to prejudice public opinion against Dr. Abebe and his medical facility.
“While our client is ordinarily inclined to ignore the publications, the persistent pattern of these false and misleading publications against our client has compelled this brief public statement in rebuttal,” the law firm stated. The legal representatives argued that the timing and context of the reports indicate an orchestrated effort to damage the reputation of the doctor and his clinic while judicial proceedings remain ongoing before the court.
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