The Federal Government of Nigeria has accused a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, of employing deceptive tactics following a French court’s decision to grant the firm the right to seize Nigerian presidential jets.
In a statement released on Thursday, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga criticized Zhongshan, accusing the company of attempting “to take over offshore assets of the Federal Government of Nigeria through subterfuge.”
This legal conflict centers on an arbitration award related to a longstanding dispute between Zhongshan and the Ogun State government.
The Paris court ruled in favor of the Chinese firm, allowing it to seize three presidential jets undergoing routine maintenance in France as “security” for claims linked to this decades-old matter.
The dispute dates back to 2007 when Zhongshan signed a contract with the Ogun State government to manage a free-trade zone, a contract that was revoked in 2015.
Dissatisfied with the revocation, Zhongshan pursued arbitration under the China-Nigeria Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), leading to an award of millions of dollars in compensation.
Despite the Nigerian government’s appeal in multiple jurisdictions, including the UK and the US, the French court recently upheld the arbitration award, ordering the seizure of the jets.
Onanuga emphasized that the Nigerian government “is not under any contractual obligation with the company,” insisting that the case is strictly between Zhongshan and Ogun State.
He condemned the company’s actions, accusing it of “arm-twisting” tactics and likening the situation to the infamous P&ID case, where fraudulent claims were made against the Nigerian government.
Onanuga further alleged that Zhongshan misled the French court by withholding vital information, leading to the wrongful attachment of Nigeria’s presidential jets, which are protected by diplomatic immunity.
He assured the public that the Nigerian government, in collaboration with Ogun State, is working swiftly to overturn what he described as a “frivolous” court order.
This incident coincides with growing concerns about Nigeria’s presidential fleet, which has been plagued by technical issues.
The controversy has intensified with recent reports of President Bola Tinubu having to use hired jets for official travel due to the unavailability of functional presidential aircraft.
In light of the court’s decision, Onanuga reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding national assets, vowing to protect them from what he termed “predators and shylocks masquerading as investors.”
