Sale Of Couple’s Embryos
The Federal Government has filed criminal charges against Abuja-based medical practitioner, John Abebe, who is also a pastor at Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel), Durumi, Abuja, accusing him of fraud, criminal conspiracy, unlawful disclosure of confidential medical records, and the alleged sale of a couple’s embryos.
The charges were instituted at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in suit number CV/005/26 by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, against Dr. Abebe and his hospital, Joje Abebe Fertility Centre Limited.
In the three-count charge, prosecutors allege that Dr. Abebe unlawfully released the confidential medical records of Mrs. Mary Manga without consent, contrary to Section 29 of the National Health Act, 2014.
The government further claims that between January and May 2025, Dr. Abebe, described as a Chief Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, obtained N19 million from the couple under the pretext of being an In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) specialist.
He is accused of converting the funds to personal use, an offence punishable under Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
Prosecutors also allege that the doctor sold the couple’s fully developed embryos to other patients, a claim that, if proven, could rank among the most serious fertility-related scandals in Nigeria’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 and punishable under section 299 of the National Health Act, 2014.”
Count two reads, “That you 1. John Onuwabhagbe Abebe ‘M’ 54 Yrs, 2. JOJE ABEBE FERTILITY CENTER LIIMITED, being a Chief Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist /Medical Doctor of Joje Hospital Limited did on or about the 17th September, 2025, you were invited by the officers and men of the FID STS Police Force Headquarters FCT Abuja, for breaching the confidential agreement you made with Mr. Adamu Hassan the husband of Mrs. Mary over his medical health status concerning his reproduction status not to expose to a third party, vis-à-vis on the 6th August, 2025, you attached their medical history that conveyed the poor fertility status of her husband to a document title Demand Pre- Action Notice from the law firm of Fabunmi and Co, which was received and read by one Albert Gaji the litigation Secretary of Y.J. Imam Yusuf John Esq, which were later exposed to some other members of the public to read as a result of the exposure made him to be traumatized till date. And that you thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under section 29 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, currently before Justice A. A. Fashola of the FCT High Court, is expected to examine critical issues of medical ethics as well as the enforcement of health and fraud laws in Nigeria.
