An Abuja-based medical practitioner, John Onuwabhagbe Abebe, was on Wednesday arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on allegations of fraud, criminal conspiracy and unlawful disclosure of confidential medical records.
Abebe appeared alongside his hospital, Joje Abebe Hospital Limited, before Justice A. A. Fashola at the court sitting in Jabi, Abuja.
The three-count charge filed by the Federal Government accuses the doctor of breaching medical confidentiality and defrauding a couple of ₦19 million under the pretext of providing specialised fertility treatment.
According to the charge, Abebe allegedly released confidential medical records belonging to Mrs. Mary Manga and her husband without their consent, an action prosecutors say violates provisions of the National Health Act 2014.
The prosecution further alleged that the doctor unlawfully disclosed sensitive details about the couple’s fertility status to third parties, an act that reportedly exposed them to public embarrassment and emotional distress.
In addition to the alleged breach of confidentiality, prosecutors claimed that between January and May 2025, Abebe, described as a Chief Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, obtained ₦19 million from the couple while presenting himself as a specialist in In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF).
The government alleged that the money was collected for treatment but was instead converted to personal use, an offence said to be punishable under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.
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One of the most serious allegations contained in the charge is that the doctor sold the couple’s fully developed embryos to other patients without their knowledge or authorisation, a claim that could represent one of the most controversial fertility-related cases in Nigeria if proven in court.
When the charges were read, Abebe and the hospital pleaded not guilty.
His counsel, Marvin Omorogbe, subsequently applied for bail on his behalf.
The prosecuting counsel, Joseph Wada, did not oppose the application.
Justice Fashola thereafter granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦5 million with one reliable surety in like sum.
The court ruled that the surety must be a professional employed by a verifiable organisation.
The case was adjourned until April 2, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
Legal observers say the proceedings could draw significant public attention due to the sensitive nature of fertility treatments and the ethical responsibilities placed on medical practitioners handling confidential patient information.