A Chinese firm, Zhongshan, has released one of three Nigerian presidential jets that were previously detained in France due to a legal dispute with Ogun State. The aircraft, an Airbus A330, was held following a French court order obtained by Zhongshan.
The company decided to release the jet to allow the Nigerian President to use it for an upcoming meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. A spokesperson for Zhongshan stated on Friday that the decision was made as a gesture of goodwill, emphasizing the company’s intention to act reasonably during the ongoing legal conflict.
“Zhongshan has consistently sought to act reasonably and fairly in the course of a legal dispute with Nigeria which was not of its making,” the spokesperson said, adding that the firm remains committed to resolving the matter through serious negotiations with the Federal Government.
The dispute, which has its roots in the management of the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ), escalated in March 2021 when an arbitral tribunal awarded Zhongshan $55.7 million, along with additional interest and costs, following an investment treaty arbitration based on a bilateral agreement between China and Nigeria.
Despite the release of the Airbus A330, the company has not provided details on when the other two detained presidential jets will be released.
Responding to the situation, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, criticized the French court’s order as an “arm-twisting tactic” by the Chinese company. He accused Zhongshan of misleading the court in Paris and noted that the jets were in France for routine maintenance when the court order was issued.
The disagreement stems from a 2010 agreement between Zhuhai Zhongfu Industrial Group Co Ltd, Zhongshan’s parent company, and the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone. The dispute intensified in 2016 when Zhongfu claimed that the Ogun State government sought to terminate its management of the zone, leading to the arbitration and subsequent legal actions.
Negotiations between the Federal Government and Zhongshan are ongoing, with both sides expressing hope for a swift resolution to the dispute.
