Former England footballer John Fashanu, now a resident of Nigeria, has found himself at the center of a legal storm following his arrest on suspicion of five crimes related to a contentious land dispute.
The 62-year-old, who is currently out on bail, is hitting back at the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) with a hefty £100,000 (₦2bn) lawsuit, claiming wrongful arrest and violation of his rights.
Reports indicate that Fashanu faces allegations of criminal conspiracy, threat to life, intimidation, trespass, and obtaining by false pretence in connection to a 22-acre plot of land. The drama unfolded when investors, who had reportedly agreed to pay Fashanu over £500,000 (₦1tr) for the site, sent workmen to construct a perimeter fence.
Upon investigating, Fashanu and his lawyer discovered the workers were being protected by police, leading to their arrests after agreeing to visit the station to resolve the matter.
Fashanu strongly denies the accusations, asserting that the dispute is a civil matter. He alleges that he, his wife Vivian, and his lawyer Chinyere Chigbu endured “arrest, detention, and inhuman treatment” for approximately three hours on December 16, followed by “subsequent intermittent constraints” on his liberty until December 19. The former footballer further claims his mobile phone was confiscated, constituting a “gross unconstitutional violation” of his rights.
Having resided in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, for several years, Fashanu has built a prominent reputation in the country through his successful football career and collaborations with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and government.