On a charge made against them by the Inspector General of Police, Justice Akeem Fashola of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting at Jabi, Abuja, has granted bail to Dr. John Abebe of Joje Fertility Centre Limited.
Following their arraignment on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, Dr. John Abebe and Joje Fertility Centre Limited entered not guilty pleas to the three counts against them.
In the aftermath of Dr. John Abebe’s not-guilty plea, his attorney Marvin Omorogbe petitioned the court to grant the first defendant generous bail conditions. The defendant, Dr. John Abebe, is now free to return to his family after the court granted his bail.
In a letter to Dr. Abebe’s lawyer, one Mr. Hassan Turaki claimed that Dr. Abebe had revealed his wife’s medical report. Turaki had petitioned the Nigeria Police Force to investigate this claim.
In a public statement, however, Joje Abebe Fertility Centre Ltd’s management disputed all charges and characterised the petition and the subsequent charge as an attempt to ruin Dr. Abebe’s reputation after more than 30 years of outstanding medical practice.
The prosecution needs time to present its case, hence the case has been postponed.
Dr. Abebe met his bail terms and spoke to reporters thereafter, describing his patient’s case as tragic and unjustified.
He elaborated that he had carried a surrogate for the patient successfully, but that he returned with male-sex surrogacy, which was the patient’s main complaint.
“We have never taken this case to court before. It’s disappointing that a surrogacy patient who has had a positive experience with us would seek to discredit us.
Barrister Omorogbe emphasised in his own statements that the case had been deferred and that Dr. Abebe was prepared to defend himself.
The impact of such an accusation on the Nigerian medical profession was voiced by Dr. George Ebong, President of the Association of Resident Doctors, FCTA, who was representing the NMA-Chairman FCT, Dr. Ayogu Malachy.
He went on to say that the group has promised to support Dr. Abebe in his fight to protect the profession.
We have known Dr. John Abebe for quite some time. He’s a good guy. The medical practice in Nigeria is under danger, we are afraid, if decent people like him are persecuted just for practicing medicine. I have faith that the court will rule in Dr. Abebe’s favour, and NMA is fully behind him.