The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has taken over the prosecution of Abuja-based fertility doctor, John Abebe, over allegations of fraud and unlawful disclosure of confidential medical records belonging to a patient.
Also charged as second and third defendants in the three-count charge marked CR/005/2026 are Joje Abebe Facility Centre Limited and Balikis Bakare.
The Federal Government alleged that the defendants unlawfully disclosed the confidential medical records of a patient, Mrs Mary Manga, without her consent, thereby violating her right to medical confidentiality contrary to provisions of the National Health Act, 2014.
The prosecution further alleged that Abebe breached a confidentiality agreement relating to the reproductive health status of Mrs Manga’s husband by attaching confidential medical records to a pre-action demand notice issued through his lawyers.
According to the prosecution, the documents consequently became accessible to third parties, allegedly causing emotional trauma to the complainants.
In the third count, the Federal Government alleged that between January and May 2025, Abebe fraudulently obtained N19 million from the complainants by falsely representing himself as an in vitro fertilisation specialist.
The prosecution further alleged that the defendant converted both the money and embryos extracted from the patients to his personal use, contrary to provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
The charge was initially filed before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, by the Nigeria Police Force before the Attorney-General of the Federation applied to take over the prosecution.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Trial judge, Justice A. A. Fashola, had in a ruling delivered on March 11 granted the defendants bail pending the determination of the case.