Alleged IVF Fraud: AGF takes over trial of Abuja Doctor, 2 others

n n

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi

n

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

n

ABUJA— 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, accused of fraud and unlawful disclosure of confidential medical records of a patient.

n

Also cited as 2nd and 3rd defendants in the three-count charge marked CR/005/2026 are Joje Abebe Facility Centre Limited and Balikis Bakare.

n

According to the FG, the defendants unlawfully revealed the confidential medical records of a patient, Mrs. Mary Manga, without consent, thereby violating her right to medical confidentiality contrary to the provisions of the National Health Act, 2014.

n

The prosecution further alleged that the 1st defendant 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.

n

It told the court that the said documents became accessible to third parties, causing emotional trauma to the complainants.

n

In count three of the charge, it was alleged that the embattled medical doctor had, between January and May 2025, fraudulently obtained N19 million from the complainants by falsely representing himself as an in vitro fertilization (IVF) specialist.

n

According to the FG, the 1st defendant converted both the money and the embryos extracted from the patients to his personal use, contrary to the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

n

Though it was the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) that initially filed the charge before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the AGF applied to take over the prosecution.

n

The defendants had since pleaded their innocence to the allegations, even as trial Justice A. A. Fashola, in a ruling on March 11, released them on bail pending the determination of the case.

n n