Presidency Reacts to Seizure of Presidential Jets by French Court

The Nigerian Presidency on Thursday addressed the recent developments involving the seizure of three Nigerian presidential jets by a French court.

This action was initiated by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese company embroiled in a legal dispute with the Ogun State Government over a $74.5 million award granted by an independent arbitral tribunal chaired by the former President of the UK Supreme Court.

The Presidency, through a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, clarified that "the Federal Government is not under any contractual obligation with the company," emphasizing that the case is strictly between Zhongshan and the Ogun State Government.

The statement further accused Zhongshan of using "unorthodox means" to strip Nigeria of its offshore assets, likening the situation to the notorious P&ID case where foreign entities attempted to defraud the Nigerian government.

Onanuga's statement highlighted that the seized jets, part of Nigeria’s presidential air fleet, were undergoing routine maintenance in France. He criticized Zhongshan for misleading the Paris Judicial Court about the nature and use of these assets, which are protected by diplomatic immunity.

"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 stated.

The Presidency assured Nigerians that it is collaborating with the Ogun State Government to overturn the Paris court's order.

Onanuga described Zhongshan's actions as "arm-twisting tactics" and part of a broader strategy by unscrupulous individuals to exploit African governments. He noted that similar attempts by Zhongshan to enforce its judgment in the UK and USA had failed.