Chinese firm releases Nigeria’s new presidential jet detained abroad

The Chinese firm, Zhongshan that secured a French court order to confiscate three Nigerian presidential jets has released one of the aircraft, an official affirmed this development on Friday explaining that Zhongshan has consistently sought to act reasonably and fairly in the course of a legal dispute with Nigeria which was not of its making

Penpushing reports that the company spokesperson added that as a gesture of goodwill, Zhongshan has lifted the seizure of that aircraft immediately, stressing that this will allow it to be used for the President’s trip.

“Zhongshan has consistently sought to act reasonably and fairly in the course of a legal dispute with Nigeria which was not of its making. It (Zhongshan) has now been made aware that an Airbus A330, currently detained in France as a result of a French court order obtained by Zhongshan, is needed for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to travel to a scheduled meeting with President Macron of France early next week’, the official added.

“As a gesture of goodwill, Zhongshan has lifted the seizure of that aircraft immediately. This will allow it to be used for the President’s trip. Zhongshan remains committed to talks with representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, this time serious and substantive on both sides, with a view to reaching a reasonable compromise settlement rapidly’, the spokesperson said

Penpushing further reports that as at the time of filing this report the company, however, did not confirmed when the two remaining aircraft being detained would be released, while it is recalled that Zhongshan officials had on Thursday they were willing to negotiate with the Nigerian government to resolve the logjam that culminated in the seizure of the three aircraft.

The French court it is recalled had authorised the seizure of three presidential jets linked to the Nigerian government, an order which prohibits the jets’ movement, sale, or purchase until Zhongshan receives the awarded $74.5 million. Bailiffs have served papers for each aircraft.

Penpushing also reports that the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, reacting described the French court’s order attaching Nigeria’s presidential jets as a result of the arm-twisting tactic by a Chinese company.

The Special Adviser in a statement on Thursday highlighted various efforts the federal government and the Ogun State government had made to resolve the matter, adding that the Zhongshan withheld vital information and misled the French court in Paris into attaching the Nigerian government’s presidential jets.

Penpushing reports that Onanuga added that the jets were on routine maintenance in France when the court order was issued, explaining that 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

The Ogun State government and Zhongshan have been locked in a long-drawn battle over the management of an export processing zone in the South-west state, while record has it that on June 29,2010, Zhuhai Zhongfu Industrial Group Co Ltd, the parent company of Zhongshan, and the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ) entered into a framework agreement on establishing Fucheng Industrial Park within the zone. The agreement gave Zhuhan the right to develop and run Fucheng Park within the zone.

Penpushing reports that the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority registered Zhongfu International Investment (NIG) FZE, a subsidiary of Zhongshan, as a free trade zone enterprise within the OGFZ in 2011, while  Ogun State government later appointed Zhongfu as the interim manager/administrator of the zone.

The Zhongfu, owever, in July 2016, alleged that the Ogun State Government had moved to terminate its appointment and appoint another manager for the free trade zone, and the company  then launched an investment treaty arbitration against Nigeria, citing the bilateral investment treaty between the People’s Republic of China and Nigeria.

Penpushing further reports that on March 26, 2021, an arbitral tribunal issued a final award of $55,675,000 in addition to an interest of $9.4 million and costs of £2,864,445 payable by Nigeria to Zhongshan.

Meanwhile, sources said the federal government repeatedly pleaded with the Ogun State Government to resolve its dispute with Zhongshan amicably, but no settlement was reached.

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