John Fashanu drags Nigeria Police to court over “unlawful arrest”

Former Wimbledon and Aston Villa striker John Fashanu has taken legal action against the Nigeria Police, demanding ₦200 million (£100,000) in compensation for what he describes as an unlawful arrest and violation of his rights.

The 62-year-old, who was capped twice by England in international friendlies against Chile and Scotland in May 1989, was arrested alongside his wife, Vivian, and lawyer, Chinyere Chigbu, in connection with an ongoing land dispute. He is accused of criminal conspiracy, threat to life, intimidation, trespass, and obtaining by false pretence—charges he strongly denies.

The dispute began when a group of investors reportedly agreed to pay over £500,000 for a 22-acre plot of land. However, Fashanu, who famously won the English FA Cup with second division Wimbledon against Liverpool in 1988, claims that he later discovered workmen building a perimeter fence on the site—allegedly under police protection.

According to Fashanu, he and his lawyer visited the site to investigate, but were arrested after voluntarily going to a police station to discuss the matter. He alleges that they were subjected to “inhuman treatment” for about three hours on December 16 and faced restrictions on their personal liberty until December 19.

His wife, Vivian, was also arrested when she accompanied him to the station. Fashanu, whose late brother Justin was the first black footballer to command a £1 million transfer fee when he moved from Norwich City to Nottingham Forest in 1981, further claims that his mobile phone was seized, constituting a “gross unconstitutional violation” of his rights.

Fashanu has now filed a lawsuit against 12 high-ranking police officials, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police,