Chinese Firm Frees Seized Nigerian Presidential Jet Amid Legal Dispute
A Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd., has released a Nigerian government-owned jet that was seized by a French court amidst a legal dispute. The firm stated on Friday that the release was a “gesture of goodwill” to facilitate ongoing discussions between the two parties.
The company clarified that the seizure of the Nigerian presidential Airbus A330 was initially carried out to enforce an arbitration award of over $60 million, following a contract dispute that dates back to 2007. The conflict arose after Nigeria’s Ogun state terminated a contract with Zhongshan in 2015, alleging the company had made minimal progress on a free trade zone project, completing only a perimeter fence.
Zhongshan emphasized its commitment to engaging in “serious and substantive” negotiations with the Nigerian government to swiftly reach a reasonable compromise. The Nigerian government has yet to respond to the company’s latest statement.
On Thursday, Nigerian officials accused Zhongshan of targeting the country’s overseas assets, including the presidential jets, as part of its efforts to enforce the court orders.
