The former Wimbledon and England star spent two days locked
up with 200 others as officers investigated claims he acted as a fixer in a
scam to sell plots that were not for sale.
John Fashanu was left in a Nigerian jail pen with 200 others
after being held over an alleged dodgy land deal, police have revealed.
The former Wimbledon and England star spent two days locked
up as officers investigated claims he acted as a fixer in a scam to sell plots
that were not for sale.
He was arrested at his home on the Sun City Estate, in the
capital Abuja, and taken in on suspicion of “criminal conspiracy”, detectives
said.
It is alleged that earlier this year the former I’m a Celeb
favourite acted for a friend looking to buy land.
The pal claims he was told by Fashanu, 54, of two contacts
who would help with buying “forgotten lands” – plots owned by chiefs that the
state were unaware of.
He was allegedly given £23,000 in cash to fix the deal with
his “boys”. But when the new “owner” went to claim his land, it is alleged he
found it not for sale and not in the hands of local chiefs.
Fash, who once fronted Nigeria’s version of Deal or No Deal,
was taken before a superintendent last week to explain himself before being
left in a packed pen, police sources said.
Officers are now looking for the other two men said to be
involved. It is believed they are still in Nigeria, where the average yearly
wage is £1,600 (660,000 Nairi).
Fashanu has agreed to pay the money back, although he denies
wrongdoing.
A source close to the former Gladiators presenter said last
night: “This is a business deal between friends that has gone south and the
police were asked to basically mediate.
“It will all be sorted very quickly. It was just a business
deal.”
It is understood Fashanu was released after surrendering his
British passport and agreeing to pay back a first instalment of the money.
Sources said he looked to sell some of his cars to raise the
cash as he waited for funds from his numerous business interests to clear in
his bank account.
The London-born celebrity’s Nigerian barrister Hyp Egbune
confirmed he had this week paid a second instalment of the money owed.
He said: “The matter is being resolved. He won’t be charged
to court is my understanding.
“We are repaying the money and that should settle this
matter.
Nigerian police Deputy Inspector General Hyacinth Dagala
said: “John Fashanu was arrested on July 17 in connection with an allegation of
criminal conspiracy and obtaining the sum of N9,550,000 under
false pretence.
“He was granted administrative bail on July 18 but because
of his inability to produce the requisite surety on that day, he remained in
detention until July 19 when he was released.”
Fashanu is a respected businessman and philanthropist, who
now has the grand title of Ambassador in his adopted nation. Once said to be
worth upwards of £6million, he spends his days in Nigeria cutting business
deals, hanging out with politicians and fighting to stop people trafficking.
He and third wife, TV personality Rachel Bakam, are regulars
on the social scene at glitzy parties.
Last year, the couple were given chieftaincy titles. Fashanu
became Ofia-Afulu-Agu of Okwe Kingdom (meaning The Forest that Contains the
Lion) and his wife Ugo-Di-Namba of Okwe Kingdom (Beautiful Eagle Queen from
Another Kingdom).
Fash has been a UN ambassador for Nigeria, a Unicef goodwill
ambassador for 53 African countries and a former board member of the Nigeria
Football Association.
During his playing days, in 1997, he was acquitted in a
high-profile match-fixing trial along with goalkeepers Bruce Grobbelaar and
Hans Segers. In 2015 he was arrested over an unlicensed gun found in his
Nigerian house during a police raid. He ended up paying a fine
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