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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has taken over the prosecution of Abuja-based fertility doctor and pastor, John Abebe, from the Inspector-General of Police in a case involving alleged fraud, unlawful disclosure of confidential medical records and the alleged sale of a couple’s embryos.
Abebe, a pastor at Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel), Durumi, Abuja, was arraigned alongside his facility, Joje Abebe Hospital Limited, on March 11 before the FCT High Court, Abuja. He is facing a three-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, fraud, unlawful disclosure of confidential medical records and the alleged sale of nine embryos belonging to a couple.
The prosecution alleged that Abebe, a Chief Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, unlawfully disclosed the confidential medical records of Mr. and Mrs. Mary Manga without their consent, contrary to Section 29 of the National Health Act, 2014.
He is also accused of obtaining N19 million from the couple between January and May 2025 under the guise of providing specialist IVF services and converting the funds to personal use, contrary to Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
Prosecutors further allege that he sold the couple’s fully developed embryos to other patients.
Sources within the Federal Ministry of Justice said the AGF’s decision to take over the case followed the refusal of police prosecutors to arraign Abebe on the earlier scheduled date of February 19.
Both the Nigeria Police Force headquarters and the Ministry of Justice reportedly accused the then Commander of the Police Special Tactical Squad, Deputy Commissioner of Police Dauda Iliya Ayuba, of frustrating the arraignment.
According to the sources, Ayuba directed prosecuting counsel, Malik D. Taiwo and Joseph Wada, not to appear in court or arraign Abebe on February 19.
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“As a result, when the case was called, neither the prosecution nor the defendant was present. Only the nominal complainant appeared, prompting the court to adjourn the matter to March 11 for arraignment,” a source said.
Sources at the STS said Abebe had repeatedly ignored police invitations after making a statement under oath in October 2025, until December 2025 when investigators concluded that a prima facie case had been established.
He was also said to have declined to receive court processes after the case was assigned to Court 31.
Police officers eventually tracked him down and invited him on February 17, ahead of the scheduled arraignment.
However, upon his arrival at the STS office, Ayuba allegedly turned him away and queried the officers who had invited him. He subsequently instructed Abebe and the prosecution team led by Chief Superintendent Malik Taiwo not to appear in court on February 19.
The first count accuses Abebe and Joje Abebe Hospital Limited of unlawfully disclosing the Mangas’ confidential medical records without consent, in violation of their right to medical confidentiality under the National Health Act, 2014.
The second count alleges that he breached a confidentiality agreement concerning Mr. Manga’s reproductive health status by attaching confidential medical records to a pre-action demand notice issued through his lawyers, thereby making the documents accessible to third parties and allegedly causing the complainants emotional trauma.
The third count alleges that between January and May 2025, Abebe fraudulently obtained N19 million from the complainants by misrepresenting himself as an IVF specialist, before allegedly converting the money and some of the couple’s embryos to personal use.
The matter is before Justice A. A. Fashola of the FCT High Court, Abuja, who granted Abebe bail on March 11.
