- John Fashanu denies the charges and is seeking £100,000 in compensation
- The 62-year-old alongside wife and lawyer were arrested and released on bail
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Former England and Gladiators star John Fashanu is on police bail after being arrested over a land dispute.
The 62-year-old, who featured for the likes of Wimbledon and Aston Villa, is accused of criminal conspiracy, threat to life, intimidation, trespass, and obtaining by false pretence in Nigeria, where he now resides.
Fashanu denies the charges and is seeking £100,000 in compensation.
As reported by the Mirror, he has accused police of violating his rights, claiming they wrongfully arrested him, his wife Vivian and his lawyer Chinyere Chigbu over a civil dispute over land.
The case reportedly arose after foreign investors agreed to pay Fashanu more than £500,000 for the 22-acre site.
The TV presenter then heard that workmen had been sent to build a perimeter fence on the land.
Ex-footballer John Fashanu is on police bail in Nigeria after being arrested over a land dispute
The former England and Wimbledon star denies the charges and is seeking £100,000 in compensation.
Following retirement from playing, Fashanu turned to television and presented the UK edition of Gladiators alongside Ulrika Jonsson
And once he and his lawyer visited to investigate, the pair were both arrested after agreeing to go to a police station to sort out the issue.
Fashanu is now suing after being subjected to ‘arrest, detention and inhuman treatment’ for ‘about three hours’ by the force on December 16.
He also believes the police violated their duties with ‘subsequent intermittent constraints of his personal liberty’ up to December 19.
The legal proceedings against the 12 individuals was filed in court under the name Ambassador Fashanu – the official title awarded to him by the Nigerian government after being appointed sports and tourism ambassador.
Lawyer Mr Chigbu has since confirmed he and the Fashanus have been released on bail.
‘All three have perfected their bail conditions. They have all met the requirements to be admitted on administrative bail by police,’ he said..
Former striker Fashanu helped guide Wimbledon to FA Cup flory in 1988 and also won two England caps.
Following retirement, he turned to television and presented the UK edition of Gladiators alongside Ulrika Jonsson in the 1990s.
Fashanu now presents the Nigerian edition of Deal or No Deal.
