Former Wimbledon and Aston Villa striker John Fashanu has taken authorized motion in opposition to the Nigeria Police, demanding ₦200 million (£100,000) in compensation for what he describes as an illegal arrest and violation of his rights.
The 62-year-old, who was capped twice by England in worldwide friendlies in opposition to Chile and Scotland in Might 1989, was arrested alongside his spouse, Vivian, and lawyer, Chinyere Chigbu, in reference to an ongoing land dispute. He’s accused of prison conspiracy, menace to life, intimidation, trespass, and acquiring by false pretence—expenses he strongly denies.
The dispute started when a bunch of traders reportedly agreed to pay over £500,000 for a 22-acre plot of land. Nonetheless, Fashanu, who famously gained the English FA Cup with second division Wimbledon in opposition to Liverpool in 1988, claims that he later found workmen constructing a fringe fence on the location—allegedly below police safety.
In accordance with Fashanu, he and his lawyer visited the location to research, however have been arrested after voluntarily going to a police station to debate the matter. He alleges that they have been subjected to “inhuman therapy” for about three hours on December 16 and confronted restrictions on their private liberty till December 19.
His spouse, Vivian, was additionally arrested when she accompanied him to the station. Fashanu, whose late brother Justin was the primary black footballer to command a £1 million switch price when he moved from Norwich Metropolis to Nottingham Forest in 1981, additional claims that his cell phone was seized, constituting a “gross unconstitutional violation” of his rights.
Fashanu has now filed a lawsuit in opposition to 12 high-ranking police officers, together with the Nigeria Police Power, the Inspector Normal of Police, the Police Service Fee, Abuja Commissioner of Police, Jude Azuka; Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abraham Ogedegbe; Chief Superintendent of Police, Habib Alkali, and Deputy Superintendent of Police, Elvis Ibe.
The case is at present earlier than the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja, with the following listening to scheduled for April 10, 2025.
Fashanu’s lawyer, Chigbu, confirmed that each one three accused have met their bail circumstances and stay free whereas awaiting the courtroom’s ruling.
“The courtroom granted the adjournment to provide all respondents sufficient time to file their counter affidavit. It will enable them to correctly reply to the allegations,” Chigbu acknowledged.
Because the authorized battle unfolds, Fashanu stays decided to clear his title, insisting that his arrest was unjustified and the dispute is a civil matter, not a prison case.
