John Fashanu sues Nigerian police for £100,000 after being arrested in Abuja over land dispute

FORMER Wimbledon and Aston Villa striker John Fashanu was recently arrested in Abuja over a land dispute involving himself and a group of investors who apparently agreed to pay more than £500,000 for the 22-acre site.

In what has become a very messy case, Fashanu, 62, was arrested and accused of criminal conspiracy, trespassing, intimidation, threat to life and obtaining documents under false pretences. His legal team managed to get him released on bail and the former footballer is now seeking £100,000 in compensation following the ordeal.

A one-time Milwall, Wimbledon and Aston Villa centre-forward, Fashanu, who once toyed with the idea of playing for Nigeria's Super Eagles, vehemently denies all charges against him. Fashanu accuses the Nigerian police of violating his rights and the wrongful arrest of himself as well as his wife, Vivian and his lawyer, Chinyere Chigbu, over the dispute.

Once a presenter of the TV show Gladiators , hosting it alongside alongside Ulrika Jonsson in the mid-1990s, Fashanu now lives in Abuja. Apparently, a group of investors apparently agreed to pay more than £500,000 for the site but Fashanu and his lawyer launched an investigation after learning that the investors had sent workmen to build a perimeter fence on the property.

According to Fashanu, the workmen were being protected by police as he and his lawyer were arrested after agreeing to sort out the dispute at a local police station. Fashanu now accuses the officers involved of arrest, detention and inhuman treatment for about three hours on December 16 and subsequent intermittent constraints of his personal liberty up to December 19.

He also alleged that he suffered gross unconstitutional violation after his mobile phone was confiscated by officers. Fashanu, who was capped twice by England during his playing days, claims he was unable to pursue a job as head coach of the Nigerian national team due to the trauma he has suffered in the wake of his arrest.

Earlier this month, Fashanu appeared at a hearing in the Abuja Federal High Court, where the case was adjourned until April 10. Fashanu’s lawyer Chinyere Chigbu said the court granted the adjournment to give all the respondents enough time to file their counter affidavit.

Ms Chigbu insisted that she, John and Vivian Fashanu had met all the requirements of bail following their arrests. She added: "It will allow them enough time to properly file their response.’

"All three have perfected their bail conditions. They have all met the requirements to be admitted on administrative bail by police."

After retiring from professional football in 1995, Fashanu enjoyed a successful career in television, co-hosting Gladiators before managing his own football team on Bravo’s Fash FC. Fashanu has also presented the Nigerian version on Deal or No Deal and featured as a contestant on both I’m a Celebrity Get Me out of Here and Dancing on Ice.