The Nigerian government has accused a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, of using deceptive tactics after a French court ruled in the firm’s favor, allowing the seizure of Nigerian presidential jets undergoing routine maintenance in France. The jets were seized as “security” for a financial claim in an ongoing legal dispute between the Chinese firm and the Ogun State government.
The conflict traces back to a 2007 agreement in which Zhongshan was contracted to manage a free-trade zone in Ogun State. The contract was revoked in 2015, prompting the company to initiate arbitration under the China-Nigeria Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). An arbitral tribunal later ruled that Nigeria had breached its obligations, awarding Zhongshan millions of dollars in compensation.
Despite appeals in multiple jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and the United States, the latest court ruling in Paris led to the controversial seizure of the jets. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga criticized the Chinese firm for misleading the court and attempting to seize sovereign assets protected by diplomatic immunity.
Onanuga emphasized that the dispute is between Zhongshan and the Ogun State government, not the federal government, and accused the firm of employing “arm-twisting tactics” similar to previous cases involving questionable claims against African governments. He assured Nigerians that the federal government is working to overturn the Paris court’s order and protect national assets from exploitation.
The court ruling comes as the state of Nigeria’s Presidential Air Fleet has been under scrutiny, with several jets reportedly faulty and one recently put up for sale. President Bola Tinubu has had to rely on hired jets for official travel, adding to concerns over the fleet’s condition.
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