FG accuses Abuja doctor for alleged IVF fraud

The Nigerian Police on Wednesday arraigned an Abuja doctor, John Abebe, who is also the pastor of the Living Faith Church, Durumi, Abuja on three charges of fraud and criminal conspiracy.

Pastor Abebe and his hospital Joje Abebe Hospital Limited were arraigned before Justice AA Fashola of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Jabi on three charges of fraud, criminal conspiracy, unlawful disclosure of confidential medical records and alleged sale of a couple’s embryos.

According to the three charges, Abebe is accused of unlawfully making public the confidential medical records of Mrs Mary Manga and her husband without her consent, an offense believed to contravene Section 29 of the National Health Act 2014.

In addition to the alleged breach of medical confidentiality, investigators allege that between January and May 2025, Abebe, described as a chief consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, deceived and defrauded the couple of $19 million under the guise of being an in vitro fertilization (IVF) specialist.

The prosecution alleges that he collected the treatment money and converted it for personal use, an offense punishable under Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offenses Act, 2006.

Most disturbing of the allegations is the claim that the doctor who is also a pastor 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.

One says: “That you 1. John Onuwabhagbe Abebe ‘M’ aged 54 years, 2. Joje Abebe Fertility Center Limited, Consultant Chief Obstetrician and Gynaecologist/Physician of Joje Abebe Hospital Limited, Head Office located at No. 0140, Bamanga Tukur Street, Zone E, Apo Legiative Quarters, Gudu District, FCT, Abuja, within Abuja Judicial Division, while you were in custody of the medical records of Mr. and Mrs. Mary Manga pertaining to their welfare and production status before 6 August 2025, at the FCT, Abuja, without their authorization or consent, you have abused your office and released their secret medical records to members of the public as a result you have given the victim the opportunity to be traumatized and yet recover from the shock, contrary to your oath of allegiance and that you have therefore committed an offense contrary to and punishable under section 299 of the Health Act national, 2014.”

The second count reads: “That 1. John Onuwabhagbe Abebe ‘M’ aged 54 years, 2. Jeje Abebe Fertility Center Limited, as Consultant Chief Obstetrician and Gynaecologist/Physician of Joje Abebe Hospital Limited, located at No. 0140, Bamanga Tukur Street, Zone E, Apo Legiative Quarters, Gudu District, FCT, Abuja, did on or about The 17th September 2025, you were advised by the officers and men of the FID STS, FCT Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, for breaching the confidential agreement entered into with Mr Adamu Hassan, husband of Mrs Mary Manga, on your medical status relating to your reproductive status, not to expose to third parties, with respect to 6th August 2025, you attached their medical history conveying the poor fertility status of your husband to a documentary titled Notice of request/pre-action by the law firm Fabunmi and Co., which was received and read by one Albert Gaji, the Litigation Secretary of Imam YJ Yusuf John Esq, who was subsequently exposed to other members of the public to read it due to the exposure which has left him traumatized to this day and who thereby commits an offense contrary to punishable under section 29 of the National Health Act, 2014.”

The third count of the charge reads: “That you 1. John Onuwabhagbe Abebe ‘M’ aged 54 years, 2. Jeje Abebe Fertility Center Limited, Consultant Chief Obstetrician and Gynaecologist/Physician of Joje Abebe Hospital Limited, located at No. 0140, Bamanga Tukur Street, Zone E, Apo Legiative Quarters, Gudu District, FCT, Abuja, within the Judicial Division of Abuja between the month of January and May 2025, at FCT Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court with intent to defraud by false pretenses deceived, and deceived Mrs. Mary Manga and her husband to the tune of N19 million (N19,000,000), under the guise of being specialized in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), having reason to believe that you are not expert in this field and converted the entire money and some of their embryos for personal use and that you have thereby committed an offense punishable under section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offenses Act, 2006.”

When the charges were read to him, Pastor Abebe and Joje Abebe Hospital Limited pleaded not guilty.

His lawyer, Barrister Marvin Omorogbe, applied for his bail, which was not opposed by the prosecution lawyer, Barrister Joseph Wada.

As a result, Pastor Abebe was granted bail in the amount of $5 million with a reliable surety of the same sum to be a professional working with a responsible and verifiable person. organization.

The matter was postponed to April 2, 2026 for trial.