Former England striker John Fashanu has launched a legal battle against the Nigerian police, claiming that his reputation was damaged and his chances of becoming the next Super Eagles head coach were destroyed following his controversial arrest in December 2024.
The 62-year-old ex-Aston Villa and Wimbledon forward alleges that he was in talks to take over as Nigeria’s national team coach before he was arrested over a land dispute in Abuja.
Fashanu insists the incident severely harmed his standing in Nigeria and ruined his career prospects.
“I was being considered for the Super Eagles coaching job, and this scandal has spoiled my image and ruined that opportunity,” Fashanu said. “My name has been dragged through the mud.”
John during his playing days with Wimbledon.
The dispute involved a 22-acre plot of land that Fashanu had agreed to sell for over £500,000. Fashanu claims that when he and his lawyer, Chinyere Chigbu, went to settle the issue, they were instead detained by the Nigerian police.
He now faces accusations of conspiracy, intimidation, trespassing, and obtaining property by false pretenses—all of which he denies.
According to his lawyer, Chinyere Chigbu, the land dispute was a civil matter, not a criminal issue, and the police should not have been involved.
“It was a business disagreement, but the police treated it like a crime,” Chigbu explained. “They also arrested his wife and me without any good reason.”
Fashanu, who is also known as “Ambassador Fashanu” for his contributions to sports and tourism, has taken the matter to the Federal High Court in Abuja, with a hearing scheduled for April 10.