A criminal case against an Abuja-based fertility doctor has grown significantly since it began. Pastor John Onuwabhagbe Abebe, a chief consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist who also pastors at Living Faith Church in Durumi, was first arraigned in March 2026 on three counts: unlawfully disclosing a couple’s confidential medical records, defrauding them of ₦19 million by allegedly misrepresenting his IVF expertise, and unlawfully converting some of the couple’s embryos. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.
On July 21, the Federal Government filed amended charges expanding the case to 12 counts, adding a new co-defendant, Balikis Olanike Bakare, and introducing fresh allegations of negligent medical treatment and giving false information to police investigators. Abebe has not yet entered a plea on the amended charges.
His legal team disputes how this has been reported. Lawyer Deji Adeyanju said no “fresh” charge was filed, only an amendment to the already-pending case, and accused unnamed parties of running a coordinated media campaign against his client rather than accurately reporting an ongoing judicial matter. The case was adjourned to November 2026 after a scheduling mix-up left it off a July court date entirely.
None of the allegations have been proven in court. What makes this case worth watching beyond the individuals involved is what it will test: Nigeria’s National Health Act confidentiality protections, and how the law treats disputes over embryo ownership and IVF practice, an area with limited specific regulation as fertility treatment grows across the country.
What You Can Do
• If you’re pursuing IVF or fertility treatment, ask your provider directly about their confidentiality practices and get treatment terms, including embryo handling, in writing.
• Know your rights under the National Health Act. Section 29 specifically protects medical record confidentiality, regardless of the outcome of this case.
• Treat this as a pending legal matter, not a settled one, until the court rules.
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