A failed agreement between the Ogun State government and Chinese firm, Zhongshan, has taken a new twist with the seizure of three presidential jets belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The dispute originated in 2010 when the Ogun State government entered into a contract with Zhongshan to manage an export processing zone. However, the relationship between both parties was strained, leading the state government to revoke the contract in 2016.
Following the termination, Zhongshan filed a lawsuit against the Ogun State government, seeking substantial damages for the alleged breach of contract. A French court later ruled in favour of Zhongshan, awarding the firm approximately US$74.5 million in compensation.
With the Ogun State government unable to pay the awarded sum, Zhongshan secured a court order to seize the three presidential jets as collateral for the outstanding debt.
The aircraft—a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737-7N6/BBJ, and an Airbus A330-243—were reportedly impounded while undergoing maintenance in Switzerland. They are currently being held at Paris-Le Bourget and Basel-Mulhouse airports.
Reacting to the development, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, criticised Zhongshan’s actions, accusing the company of misleading the court.
“We are convinced the Chinese company misled the Judicial Court of Paris regarding the use and nature of the assets it seeks to attach and did not fully disclose to the court as required by law,” Onanuga stated.
He further clarified that “The Federal Government is not under any contractual obligation with the company. The case in which Zhongshan is trying to use every unorthodox means to strip our offshore assets is between the company and the Ogun State Government. The Federal Government is fully aware of efforts being made by the Ogun State Government to reach an amicable resolution on the matter.”
He continued, “This arm-twisting tactic by the Chinese company is the latest in a long list of failed moves to attach Nigerian government-owned assets in foreign jurisdictions.”
“Undoubtedly, Zhongshan withheld vital information and misled the Judicial Court in Paris into attaching the Nigerian government’s presidential jets, which are on routine maintenance in France. The use and nature of the Presidential jets as assets of a Sovereign entity whose assets are protected by diplomatic immunity forbid any foreign Court from issuing an order against them.”
“We want to assure Nigerians that the Federal Government is working with the Ogun State Government to discharge this frivolous order in Paris immediately.”
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