The federal government has charged an Abuja-based medical practitioner, John Abebe, who also serves as a pastor at Living Faith Church, Durumi, Abuja, with multiple criminal offences.
According to Politics Nigeria, Abebe faces allegations of fraud, criminal conspiracy, unlawful disclosure of confidential medical records, and the alleged sale of a couple’s embryos.
The charges were filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under suit number CV/005/26 by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, against Abebe and his facility, Joje Abebe Hospital & Fertility Centre Limited.
The three-count charge alleges that Abebe unlawfully released the confidential medical records of Mrs. Mary Manga without her consent, violating Section 29 of the National Health Act 2014.
In addition, prosecutors claim that between January and May 2025, Abebe, identified as chief consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, defrauded the couple of N19 million under the pretense of providing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment. The money was allegedly converted for his personal use, an offence punishable under Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
Most controversially, the charges assert that Abebe sold the couple’s fully developed embryos to other patients, which, if proven, would constitute one of the most serious fertility-related scandals in Nigeria’s recent history.
Count one of the charge states, “That you 1. John Onuwabhagbe Abebe ‘M’ 54 years, 2. Joje Abebe Fertility Centre Limited…without their authorisation or consent abused your office and released their secret medical record to members of the public as a result you render the victim the exposure to be traumatized and yet to recover from the shock…contrary to section 29 of the National Health Act, 2014.”
Count three reads, “That you 1. John Onuwabhagbe Abebe ‘M’ 54 years, 2. Jeje Abebe Fertility Centre Limited…between January to May 2025…deceived Mrs Mary Manga and her husband to the tune of N19 million (N19,000,000), under the pretense that you are specialized in Invitro Fertilization (IVF)…converted the whole money and some of their embryos to your own use…punishable under section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act, 2006.”
The case, currently before Honourable Justice A. A. Fashola of the FCT High Court, is expected to examine both medical ethics and the enforcement of health and fraud laws in Nigeria.
