AFRICA

Seized Jets: Presidency Accuses Chinese Firm of Fraudulently Trying To Acquire Nigerian Assets By Misleading French Court

Nigeria’s Presidency has issued a strong rebuttal regarding the recent seizure of three Nigerian aircraft by Chinese company Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, amid a contentious legal dispute, accusing the company of fraudulent activities and misleading the Judicial Court of Paris in its attempt to claim Nigerian assets.

 Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, refuted any contractual obligation between the Federal Government and Zhongshan, emphasising that the jets, being sovereign assets, are protected by diplomatic immunity and cannot be legally seized by foreign courts.

Onanuga highlighted that the ongoing legal issues pertain exclusively to Zhongshan and Ogun State Government, and not the Federal Government.

“Undoubtedly, Zhongshan withheld vital information and misled the Judicial Court in Paris into attaching the Nigerian government’s presidential jets, which are on routine maintenance in France. The use and nature of the Presidential jets as assets of a sovereign entity whose assets are protected by diplomatic immunity forbid any foreign Court from issuing an order against them.

“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. This same Chinese company had tried to enforce its questionable judgment in the UK and USA but failed.”

According to Onanuga, the Presidency is aware of Zhongshan’s attempt to take over offshore assets of the Federal Government of Nigeria “through subterfuge”. 

T”he 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.

“The Federal Government is fully aware of efforts being made by the Ogun State Government to reach an amicable resolution on the matter. It must be said without any equivocation that Zhongshan has no solid ground to demand restitution from the Ogun State Government based on the facts regarding the 2007 contract between the company and the State Government to manage a free-trade zone.”

He further stated that Zhongshan’s claim for restitution lacks merit based on the facts of the 2007 contract and subsequent revocation in 2015.

Onanuga accused Zhongshan of obtaining two court orders from the Judicial Court of Paris, dated March 7, 2024, and August 12, 2024, without notifying the Federal Government or Ogun State.

He described these actions as part of a series of failed attempts by Zhongshan to attach Nigerian government-owned assets abroad, likening the situation to the infamous P&ID case where unscrupulous entities have tried to defraud African governments.

“While the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is working with the Ogun State Government on an amicable resolution, Zhongshan obtained two orders from the Judicial Court of Paris dated March 7, 2024, and August 12, 2024, without any notice being duly served on the Federal Government of Nigeria and Ogun State Government.

“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. The material facts in the transaction between the Ogun State Government and Zhongshan point to another P&ID case in which unscrupulous and questionable individuals falsely present themselves as investors with the sole objective of undercutting and scamming Governments in Africa.”

The statement provided background on the dispute, noting that the contract between Ogun State and Zhongshan, executed in 2007, had been contested since 2015.

Arbitration concluded in 2019 with an award of over $60 million against the Federal Government, although Zhongshan had only completed minimal work on the project. Ogun State successfully resisted enforcement of this award in eight jurisdictions, with ongoing appeals in the US and UK.

Recent settlement discussions, including a three-day meeting in London in September 2023 with Ogun State officials and the Attorney General/Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, had broken down. It noted that Zhongshan’s initial willingness to negotiate was reversed, leading to a dispute over the full arbitration debt.

It was also stated that Ogun State has continued to seek a reasonable settlement, with the latest correspondence sent to Zhongshan last week. According to the statement, Ogun State has continued to seek a reasonable settlement, with the latest correspondence sent to Zhongshan last week.

The Federal Government further assured Nigerians that it is working closely with Ogun State to contest the court orders and protect national assets from fraudulent claims.

The seizure of the three aircraft associated with the Nigerian government were seized under the authority of a French court following a protracted legal battle between a sub-national and Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd.

The seizure includes a newly acquired Airbus A330 valued at over $100 million as well as a Dassault Falcon 7X and a Boeing 737, previously part of the Nigerian presidential fleet. 

The report said the Dassault Falcon 7X was undergoing maintenance at Paris-Le Bourget airport, while the Boeing 737 and Airbus A330 were stationed at Basel-Mulhouse International Airport for similar reasons.

ARISE News had made repeated efforts to get a reaction and was advised by a presidential media aide that the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, was in the best position to speak on the incident.

However Keyamo’s media aide Tunde Moshood advised that the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, would be in a better position to speak on the matter.

A spokesperson for Fagbemi asked for time to make findings and promised to revert once he had more information, before Onanuga issued a detailed statement. 

Chioma Kalu

Follow us on:

Chioma Kalu

View Comments

  • TOKUNBO VEHICLE FOR SALE AT CHEAPER AFFORDABLE PRICE CONTACT THE OFFICER IN CHANGER FOR MORE INFORMATION O8O__6739__9O9O
    *BAGS OF RICE FOR SALES IN CHEAPER AND AFFORDABLE PRICE #25,500 DELIVERY PER BAG #5000
    **CLOTHES FOR BALE 50kg FOR #35,000, 100kg for #70,000 and 150kg for #120,000

    THE REPLACEMENT FORM IS ALSO AVAILABLE NOW IS GOING ON FOR INTERESTED CANDIDATE SHOULD CONTACT or WHATSAPP THE OFFICER INCHARGE (O8O__6739__9O9O)
    *SOME AVAILABLE TOKUNBO VEHICLES*
    Golf 2,3,4 ₦650,000 - #1million
    PEUGEOT 206 #650,000
    PEUGEOT 306 #800,000
    PEUGEOT 307 #1,000,000
    PEUGEOT 406 #1,200,000
    PEUGEOT 407 #1,300,000
    PEUGEOT 504 #1,500,000
    PEUGEOT J5 #1.500,000
    TOYOTA CAMRY 2.2 TING-A-LING HT ₦2,000,000
    TOYOTA CAMRY BIG-DADDY ₦4,000,000
    TOYOTA CAMRY MUSCLE ₦4,000,000
    TOYOTA CAMRY SPIDER ₦3,500,000
    TOYOTA AVALON ₦3,000,000
    TOYOTA AVENSIS ₦2,500,000
    TOYOTA COROLLA ₦2,500,000
    TOYOTA YARIS ₦1,500,000
    TOYOTA MATRIX ₦2,000,000
    TOYOTA PICNIC ₦2,000,000
    TOYOTA SIENNA ₦4,800,000
    TOYOTA VENZA ₦4,000,000
    TOYOTA RAV4 ₦4,000,000
    TOYOTA 4RUNNER ₦4,500,000
    TOYOTA HIANCE -BUS ₦5,500,000
    TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ₦6,500,000
    TOYOTA LAND CRUISER ₦8,000,000
    TOYOTA TUNDRA ₦9,000,000
    TOYOTA PRADO ₦9,000,000

    MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS ₦3,000,000
    MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class ₦3,500,000
    MERCEDES-BENZ G-Class ₦4,000,000
    MERCEDES-BENZ GLK ₦4,500,000
    MERCEDES BENZ ML₦5,000,000

    NISSAN ALTIMA ₦6,500,000
    NISSAN ARMADA ₦6,500,000
    NISSAN MAXIMA N2,000,000
    NISSAN MURANO ₦6,000,000
    NISSAN PRIMER ₦6,000,000
    NISSAN PATHFINDER ₦6,000,000

    HONDA ACCORD ₦2,500,000
    HONDA CITY ₦2,000,000
    HONDA CIVIC ₦2,500,000
    HONDA C-RV ₦3,000,000
    HONDA CROSS TOUR ₦1,500,000
    HONDA ELEMENT ₦2,000,000
    HONDA EVILSPIRIT ₦1,500,000
    HONDA ODYSSEY ₦1,200,000
    HONDA PILOT ₦5,500,000

    LEXUS IS300 #2,500,000
    LEXUS Ex300 #3,000,000
    LEXUS Ex330 #3,500,000
    LEXUS Ex350 #4,000,000

    LEXUS RX300 #3,000,000
    LEXUS Rx330 ₦3,500,00
    Lexus Rx350 ₦4,500,000
    LEXUS Rx460 ₦5,200,000
    LO8O__6739__9O9O

Recent Posts

German Consulate Hosts Unity Day In Lagos as Diplomatic Ties Bloom

The 34th anniversary of German Unity celebrated in Lagos, was hosted by Consul General Weert…

6 hours ago

Matt Gaetz To Exit Congress Following Withdrawal As DOJ Nominee Amid Controversy

Matt Gaetz has said he will not return to Congress after withdrawing as Trump’s DOJ…

9 hours ago

Tinubu Seeks Senate Approval For Oluyede As Chief Of Army Staff

President Tinubu has sought Senate confirmation of Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Army Staff, citing…

9 hours ago

Netanyahu Risks Arrest in UK as ICC Issues Warrant Against Him For War Crimes

Israeli PM Netanyahu faces potential arrest in the UK as Downing Street pledges to fulfill…

12 hours ago

Second Australian Teen Dies from Suspected Methanol Poisoning in Laos

A second Australian teenager has died of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos, bringing to six…

12 hours ago

Simon Ekpa Arrested, Denies Being IPOB Leader + Atiku Says Tinubu’s Loans Are Bone-Crushing – Trending With Ojy Okpe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFlFl1mPGC8 The arrest of self-proclaimed Prime minister of the Biafra Republic, Simon Ekpa who was…

12 hours ago