In a dramatic legal development, a French court has authorized the seizure of three presidential jets linked to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
This decision stems from a legal battle involving Zhongshan, a Chinese company, and the Ogun State government.
The court’s ruling affects two jets from Nigeria’s presidential air fleet and a recently purchased Airbus 330 that has not yet been delivered.
Details of the Seized Jets
The seized aircraft include:
– Dassault Falcon 7X: Located at Le Bourget Airport in Paris.
– Boeing 737: Part of the Nigerian presidential air fleet.
– Airbus 330: Currently at Basel-Mulhouse Airport in Switzerland, purchased for over $100 million but not yet delivered.
The court’s order prohibits any movement, sale, or purchase of these jets until Zhongshan receives the $74.5 million awarded by an independent arbitral tribunal.
The seizure follows a lengthy dispute between Zhongshan and the Ogun State government. In 2016, Ogun State revoked Zhongshan’s contract to manage an export processing zone, leading Zhongshan to seek legal redress. An arbitral tribunal, chaired by a former UK Supreme Court President, awarded Zhongshan $74.5 million in compensation, which Ogun State has not paid.
The repercussions extend beyond aircraft. Recently, a UK court ordered the seizure of Nigerian-owned buildings in Liverpool, valued between £1.3 and £1.7 million, in connection to the same dispute.
The Ogun State-Zhongshan conflict began in 2010 with an agreement to develop and manage Fucheng Industrial Park within the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone. Despite initial cooperation, relations soured, leading to the current legal entanglements.
The Nigerian government has yet to comment on these recent developments, but the situation underscores significant diplomatic and financial challenges ahead.
This ongoing saga highlights the intricate interplay between state actions and federal liabilities, raising questions about the enforcement of international arbitration awards and the safeguarding of national assets.
