The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has taken over the prosecution of Abuja-based fertility doctor, Dr. John Abebe, who is facing allegations of fraud, unlawful disclosure of confidential medical records and improper handling of embryos belonging to a couple.
Abebe, Joje Abebe Fertility Centre Limited and Balkis Olanike Bakare are defendants in the three-count charge marked CR/005/2026.
The Federal Government alleged that Abebe unlawfully disclosed confidential medical records belonging to Mrs. Mary Manga without her consent, in violation of her right to medical confidentiality under the National Health Act, 2014.
The prosecution also accused the doctor of breaching a confidentiality agreement concerning the reproductive health status of Manga’s husband, Mr. Adamu Hassan, by attaching his medical information to a pre-action demand notice issued through lawyers.
According to the charge, the disclosure allegedly exposed the couple’s confidential medical information to third parties and caused them emotional distress.
In a separate count, the Federal Government alleged that between January and May 2025, Abebe fraudulently obtained ₦19 million from the couple by falsely presenting himself as an in vitro fertilisation specialist.
The prosecution further alleged that Abebe converted the money to his personal use and unlawfully dealt with embryos allegedly created during the couple’s IVF treatment.
The charge states that the embryos allegedly included nine embryos—two male and seven female—which the prosecution claimed were sold to other patients.
The government alleged that the conduct constituted violations of the couple’s reproductive rights and medical confidentiality, contrary to provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and the National Health Act, 2014.
The case was initially prosecuted by the Nigeria Police Force before the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation applied to take over the prosecution.
Abebe and the other defendants have pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Justice A. A. Fashola of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory had, on March 11, granted the defendants bail pending the determination of the case.
The earlier police prosecution had alleged that on August 6, 2025, Abebe released Manga’s confidential medical records without authorisation and disclosed details of her husband’s fertility status through documents attached to a demand notice sent by a third-party law firm.
At the most recent hearing, proceedings were adjourned following a procedural disagreement between the prosecution and defence over a pending application.
Defence counsel, Marvin Omorogbe, had sought to move the application before proposing that the substantive trial should proceed. However, the judge directed the prosecution, led by Malik D. Taiwo, to formally respond to the application unless it was withdrawn.
The allegations against Abebe, Joje Abebe Fertility Centre Limited and Bakare have not been proven in court.
The case is expected to place renewed focus on medical confidentiality, assisted reproductive technology, the ownership and handling of embryos, and the regulation of fertility treatment in Nigeria.