Former footballer and TV presenter John Fashanu has taken legal action against Nigerian police, seeking £100,000 (approximately N200 million) in compensation after his arrest over a land dispute.
The 62-year-old, best known for co-hosting Gladiators in the 1990s and his successful football career, is currently on police bail in Nigeria, where he now resides.
Fashanu was arrested in December on suspicion of multiple serious offences, including criminal conspiracy, threat to life, intimidation, trespassing, and obtaining by false pretences, Mirror Online reports.
However, he strongly denies the allegations, arguing that the matter is a civil dispute and accusing authorities of unlawfully detaining him, his wife Vivian, and his lawyer Chinyere Chigbu.
The dispute arose over a 22-acre plot of land, for which Fashanu claims investors had agreed to pay him more than £500,000.
When he learned that the investors had sent workers to construct a perimeter fence, he and his lawyer went to investigate.
According to Fashanu, they discovered that the workers were being protected by police. Both men were then arrested after voluntarily going to a police station to resolve the issue.
Fashanu has since accused police officers of “arrest, detention, and inhuman treatment” during a three-hour ordeal on December 16, followed by “subsequent intermittent constraints of his personal liberty” until December 19.
He further alleged that his wife, Vivian, was wrongly arrested when she accompanied him to the police station and that his rights were violated when officers seized his mobile phone.
The former Wimbledon striker, who helped his club win the FA Cup in 1988 and also played for Aston Villa, claimed that the incident has left him traumatised and unable to pursue a role as Nigeria’s national football coach, a position he said he was in contention for before his arrest.
Fashanu, who holds dual British and Nigerian citizenship, has lived in Abuja for several years and remains a prominent figure in Nigerian football.
His career in Nigeria includes working with the Nigerian FA and the government, as well as presenting the local version of Deal or No Deal.
Earlier this month, Fashanu appeared at Abuja’s Federal High Court, where the case was adjourned until April 10.
His lawyer, Chinyere Chigbu, confirmed, “The court granted the adjournment to give all the respondents enough time to file their counter affidavit. It will allow them enough time to properly file their response.”
Mr. Chigbu also stated that all three individuals have met their bail conditions.
“All three have perfected their bail conditions. They have all met the requirements to be admitted on administrative bail by police,” he said.
Fashanu has named 12 defendants in his lawsuit, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, the police service commission, and senior officers in Abuja.
Among those listed in the documents are Abuja’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jude Azuka, Deputy Commissioner of Police DCP Ogedegbe, Chief Superintendent of Police Habib Alkali, and Deputy Superintendent of Police Mr. Elvis Ibe.
He filed the court documents under the name Ambassador Fashanu, a title awarded to him by the Nigerian government in recognition of his contributions to sports and tourism.
