The Nigerian Presidency has strongly criticized Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese company, following reports that a French court ordered the seizure of three Nigerian presidential jets.
The aircraft— a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737-7N6/BBJ, and an Airbus A330-243—are stationed at Paris-Le Bourget and Basel-Mulhouse airports.
The dispute comes from a revoked contract between the Ogun State government and Zhongshan in 2016.
The Chinese firm, whose contract to manage an export processing zone was terminated, had approached the court seeking restitution.
Responding to the situation, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, accused Zhongshan of misleading the court.
He clarified that the Federal Government is not contractually obligated to the company and that the legal battle is between Zhongshan and the Ogun State government.
“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,” Onanuga stated.
He assured Nigerians that the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, in collaboration with the Ogun State government, is working to resolve the matter amicably and to quash the court orders issued without proper notice.
“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,” he said.
Onanuga further likened the situation to the infamous P&ID case, accusing Zhongshan of attempting to exploit the government through deceitful means.
He emphasized that the presidential jets, as assets of a sovereign entity, are protected by diplomatic immunity and should not be subject to foreign court orders.
“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 added.
He concluded by reassuring the public that efforts are underway to discharge the “frivolous” order in Paris and to prevent any wrongful attachment of the Nigerian government’s assets abroad.
