The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has filed a fresh 12-count criminal charge against Abuja-based fertility doctor and cleric, Pastor John Abebe, over allegations including the unlawful disclosure of patients’ medical records, sale of human embryos, fraud, conspiracy and providing false information to police investigators.
Also charged are Joje Abebe Fertility Centre Limited, the medical facility associated with Abebe, and Balikis Olanike Bakare.
The fresh charge was filed on July 21, 2026, at the registry of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the charge, Abebe, Bakare and Joje Abebe Fertility Centre Limited are accused, among other offences, of criminal conspiracy, conspiracy to commit fraud and providing allegedly false information intended to mislead police investigators.
Abebe, who is also described as a pastor with Living Faith Church, popularly known as Winners Chapel, Durumi, Abuja, had previously been charged alongside his hospital in an earlier three-count case filed by the Inspector-General of Police on January 12, 2026.
Bakare was not named in that earlier three-count charge.
Abebe and the fertility centre were subsequently arraigned on March 11, 2026, before Justice Akeem Fashola of Court 31, Jabi, Abuja, and were granted bail.
The Attorney-General later took over the prosecution from the Inspector-General of Police when the matter came up on June 18, 2026.
According to the report, the takeover followed developments surrounding an earlier attempt to arraign Abebe on February 19, 2026, involving the then Commander of the Special Tactical Squad, Dauda Iliya Ayuba.
The fresh 12-count charge contains more extensive allegations concerning fertility treatment provided to patients at the centre.
Prosecutors allege that Abebe sold nine out of 12 embryos belonging to a couple identified as Mr and Mrs Adamu Hassan to other patients.
The nine embryos were described in the charge as comprising two male and seven female embryos.
Abebe is also accused of defrauding the couple of ₦19 million in connection with the fertility treatment and related transactions.
These remain allegations contained in the prosecution’s case and have not been determined by the court.
These remain allegations contained in the prosecution’s case and have not been determined by the court.
Prosecutors also allege that Abebe and Bakare represented that two male embryos had been transferred to a purported surrogate mother identified as Miss Joy Ene Pius.
Investigators, however, are said to have gathered evidence which the prosecution claims contradicts that account.
The new case also includes allegations relating to the disclosure of patients’ confidential medical information without lawful authority.
The filing of the fresh charges comes against the backdrop of a statement earlier issued by Abebe’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, who had maintained that the Federal Government had not filed any fresh criminal charge against his client.
The latest court filing, however, is reported to contain 12 counts and adds Bakare as a defendant alongside Abebe and Joje Abebe Fertility Centre Limited.