Nigerian Pastor & Doctor Charged with IVF Fraud & Embryo Sale
Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated legal proceedings against Dr. John Abebe, a medical practitioner and pastor at Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel) in Durumi, Abuja, alleging fraud, criminal conspiracy, unlawful disclosure of medical records, and the illicit sale of a couple’s embryos. The charges were filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, under suit number CV/005/26, with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, listed as the complainant.
According to court documents, prosecutors allege that Dr. Abebe unlawfully released confidential medical records belonging to Mrs. Mary Manga without her consent, a violation of Section 29 of the National Health Act of 2014. The government contends that between January and May 2025, Dr. Abebe, operating as Chief Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Joje Abebe Fertility Centre Limited, received N19 million (approximately $125,000 USD based on 2025 exchange rates) from the couple under the guise of providing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) services. The prosecution claims Dr. Abebe misappropriated these funds for personal employ, an offense punishable under Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006.
Perhaps the most serious allegation centers on the claim that Dr. Abebe sold the couple’s fully developed embryos to other patients. If substantiated, this would represent a significant scandal within Nigeria’s fertility treatment sector. The first count of the charge details the alleged unauthorized disclosure of Mrs. Manga’s medical records, stating that Dr. Abebe “abused your office and released their secret medical record to members of the public” causing trauma. The second count alleges that Dr. Abebe breached a confidential agreement with Mr. Adamu Hassan, Mrs. Manga’s husband, by attaching their medical history – revealing poor fertility status – to a legal document sent to a third party law firm, Fabunmi and Co., and subsequently exposing the information to others.
The third charge specifically addresses the alleged fraud related to the N19 million payment, claiming Dr. Abebe deceived the couple by falsely representing himself as a skilled IVF specialist and diverting the funds and embryos for his own benefit. Joje Abebe Fertility Centre Limited is listed as a co-defendant in all three counts.
The case is currently being heard before Justice A. A. Fashola of the FCT High Court. Kayode Egbetokun, the current Inspector General of Police, who initiated the charges, was appointed to the position by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June 2023, replacing Usman Alkali Baba, according to his Wikipedia profile. The proceedings are expected to raise critical questions regarding medical ethics and the enforcement of health and fraud regulations within Nigeria’s healthcare system.
As of today, February 23, 2026, the court has not yet scheduled a hearing date to address the substantive allegations against Dr. Abebe and his fertility center.