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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) AGF has taken over prosecution of Abuja-based fertility doctor and pastor, John Abebe, from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), in a case involving fraud, unlawful disclosure of confidential medical records, and the alleged sale of a couple’s embryos.
Dr. Abebe, a pastor at Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel), Durumi, Abuja, was arraigned on March 11 alongside his facility, Joje Abebe Hospital Limited, on a three-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, fraud, unlawful disclosure of confidential medical records, and the alleged sale of nine embryos two male, seven female belonging to a couple.
The prosecution alleges that Dr. 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, and that between January and May 2025 he obtained N19 million from the couple under the guise of providing specialist IVF services, then converted the funds to personal use an offence under Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
Prosecutors further allege he sold the couple’s fully developed embryos to other patients.
Sources within the Federal Ministry of Justice said the Attorney General’s decision to take over the case followed the refusal of police prosecutors to arraign the defendant on the earlier scheduled date of February 19.
Both the Nigeria Police Force headquarters and the Ministry of Justice accused the then Commander of the Police Special Tactical Squad (STS), Deputy Commissioner of Police Dauda Iliya Ayuba, of frustrating that arraignment.
According to the sources, DCP Ayuba directed prosecuting counsels Malik D. Taiwo and Joseph Wada not to appear in court or arraign Dr. Abebe on February 19. “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 Dr. Abebe had repeatedly ignored police invitations after making a statement under oath in October 2025, continuing until December 2025 when investigators concluded that a prima facie case had been established.
He also 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, DCP Ayuba allegedly turned him away and queried the officers who had invited him, then instructed both Dr. Abebe and the prosecution team, led by Chief Superintendent Malik Taiwo, not to appear in court on February 19.
The first count accuses Dr. Abebe and Joje Abebe Hospital Limited of unlawfully disclosing the Mangas’ confidential medical records without consent, violating their right to medical confidentiality under the National Health Act, 2014.
The second count alleges he breached a confidentiality agreement over Mr. Manga’s reproductive health status by attaching confidential medical records to a pre-action demand notice issued through his lawyers, making the documents accessible to third parties and causing the complainants emotional trauma.
The third count alleges that between January and May 2025, he fraudulently obtained N19 million from the complainants by misrepresenting himself as an IVF specialist, then converted both the money and some of the couple’s embryos to personal use, contrary to the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
The matter is before Justice A. A. Fashola of the FCT High Court, Abuja, who granted Dr. Abebe bail on March 11.
The trial is expected to raise significant questions around medical ethics, patient confidentiality, fertility treatment practice, and enforcement of health and fraud laws in Nigeria.
