The federal government has filed criminal charges against an Abuja-based medical practitioner, John Abebe, who is also a pastor with Living Faith Church, Durumi, Abuja.
It accused him of fraud, criminal conspiracy, unlawful disclosure of confidential medical records, and alleged sale of a couple’s embryos.
The charges were filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with suit number: CV/005/26 in Abuja by the inspector-general of police, Kayode Egbetokun, against Dr Abebe and his hospital, Joje Abebe Hospital & Fertility Centre Limited.
According to the three-count charge, Abebe is accused of unlawfully releasing the confidential medical records of Mrs Mary Manga to the public without her consent — an offence said to contravene Section 29 of the National Health Act 2014.
In addition to the alleged breach of medical confidentiality, prosecutors claim that between January and May 2025, Abebe, described as a chief consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, deceived and defrauded the couple of N19 million under the pretext of being a specialist in In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF).
The charge alleges that he collected the money for treatment and converted it to personal use — an offence punishable under Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
Most disturbing among the allegations is the claim that the doctor sold the couple’s fully developed embryos to other patients — a development that, if proven, could mark one of the most scandalous fertility-related cases in the country’s recent history.
Count one reads, “That you 1. John Onuwabhagbe Abebe ‘M’ 54 years, 2. Joje Abebe Fertility Centre Limited, being a Chief Consultant Obstetrician & Gynecologist/Medical Doctor of Joje Abebe Hospital Limited, head office located at No. 0140, Bamanga Tukur Street, Zone E, Apo Legiative Quarters, Gudu District, FCT, Abuja, within the Abuja Judicial Division, while you were in custody of Mr. & Mrs. Mary Manga’s medical records concerning their health welfare and their production status on or before 6th August 2025, at FCT, Abuja, 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 your oath of allegiance. And that you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 299 of the National Health Act, 2014.”
Count three, of the charge reads, “That you 1. John Onuwabhagbe Abebe ‘M’ 54 years, 2. Jeje Abebe Fertility Centre Limited, being a Chief Consultant Obstetrician & Gynecologist/Medical Doctor of Joje Abebe Hospital Limited, located at No. 0140, Bamanga Tukur Street, Zone E, Apo Legiative Quarters, Gudu District, FCT, Abuja, within the Abuja Judicial Division between the month of January to May 2025, at FCT Abuja, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud by false pretense deceived, and duped 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), having reason to believe you are not skill in that filed and converted the whole money and some of their embryos to your own use. And that you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act, 2006.”
The case, now before Honourable Justice A. A. Fashola of the FCT High Court, is expected to test both medical ethics and the enforcement of health and fraud laws in Nigeria.
