Lawyer Marvin Omorogbe urges media and public to respect judicial process in Dr. John Abebe’s ongoing IVF fraud trial in Abuja

Abuja-based lawyer Marvin Omorogbe, representing Dr. John Abebe, has condemned what he described as misleading and prejudicial media reports on the doctor’s ongoing IVF fraud case.

Dr. Abebe, of Joje Fertility Centre Limited, is being prosecuted by the Inspector General of Police, with Mr. Adamu Hassan Turaki as the nominal complainant. The case is currently before the Federal Capital Territory High Court.

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Omorogbe warned that a “coordinated media campaign” has portrayed his client as guilty despite the matter still being under judicial consideration. He emphasized that several reports have misrepresented court proceedings and ignored the constitutional principle of presumption of innocence.

“We fully recognise and respect the constitutional role of the press in reporting judicial proceedings. However, several of the reports circulating online materially misrepresent what transpired in court and are accompanied by sensational and defamatory headlines that disregard the principle of presumption of innocence,” Omorogbe said.

The lawyer urged both the media and the public to exercise restraint and allow the legal process to proceed without interference, stressing that no conclusions should be drawn before the court delivers its judgment.

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Justice Akeem Fashola of the FCT High Court, sitting in Jabi, Abuja, granted Dr. Abebe bail on Wednesday after he pleaded not guilty to the charges.