Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Company, a Chinese firm, has announced the release of one of the three Nigerian presidential jets that were previously seized by order of a French court.
A spokesperson for the company issued a statement on Friday explaining that the release is a goodwill gesture. The company has been informed that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu requires the aircraft for an upcoming meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The statement detailed that an Airbus A330, currently held in France due to the court order obtained by Zhongshan, is needed for President Tinubu’s travel to this important meeting. As a result, Zhongshan has decided to lift the seizure of the Airbus A330 immediately, facilitating its use for the President’s trip.
This decision follows Zhongshan’s earlier court order to seize three Nigerian presidential jets: a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737-7N6/BBJ, and an Airbus A330-243, which were stationed at airports in France. The seizure is linked to a contract dispute dating back to 2016, when the Ogun State government revoked an agreement.
The Nigerian Federal Government has stated that it is pursuing both legal and diplomatic avenues to resolve the interim attachment of the three aircraft in France. This situation represents a recent instance of arbitration efforts against Nigeria by foreign entities claiming that the country has breached agreements.
