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Abuja fertility doctor Dr. John Abebe faces fresh criminal charges filed by the federal government over allegations of fraud, unlawful disclosure of confidential medical records, and the mishandling of patient embryos, according to court documents from the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. The case, marked CR/005/2026, involves Joje Abebe Fertility Centre Limited and Balkis Olanike Bakare as co-defendants alongside Abebe, a Chief Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and a pastor at Living Faith Church in Durumi, Abuja.
Federal Takeover and Court Proceedings
The prosecution of the case was initially handled by the Nigeria Police Force through the office of the Inspector-General of Police. According to Leadership, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, subsequently sought the transfer of the case file to his office and filed a fresh three-count charge at the FCT High Court registry.
Justice A. A. Fashola granted the defendants bail on March 11, 2026, following their arraignment. During a subsequent hearing, the court adjourned the matter due to a procedural disagreement between the prosecution, led by Malik D. Taiwo, and the defence counsel, Marvin Omorogbe, regarding a pending application.
Allegations of Fraud and Unlawful Embryo Handling
According to the charge sheet detailed by The Newswire Law and Events, the federal government alleged that between January and May 2025, Dr. Abebe fraudulently obtained N19 million from Mr. Adamu Hassan and his wife, Mrs. Mary Manga. The prosecution stated that the doctor collected the funds under the pretext of providing specialist In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) services but converted the money to his personal use, violating Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
Furthermore, the prosecution alleged that Abebe unlawfully dealt with nine embryos—comprising two male and seven female embryos—created during the couple’s IVF process. Court documents claim that these fully developed embryos were sold to other patients without the couple’s consent.
Medical Confidentiality Violations
The charges also detail alleged breaches of medical privacy. According to court filings, Abebe and Joje Abebe Hospital Limited violated Section 29 of the National Health Act, 2014, by unlawfully disclosing the confidential medical records of Mrs. Mary Manga without her consent.
The prosecution further alleged that the doctor breached a confidentiality agreement regarding the reproductive health status of Mr. Hassan. According to The Newswire Law and Events, this breach occurred when confidential medical information was attached to a pre-action demand notice issued through a third-party law firm on August 6, 2025. The prosecution stated that the documents became accessible to third parties, causing emotional distress and trauma to the complainants. All allegations brought against the defendants remain unproven in court.
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