One of the three Nigerian Airbus A330 aircraft detained in France has been released by the Chinese firm Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd.
The planes were initially seized following a court order from a Paris judicial court. The company had also seized a Dassault Falcon 7X and a Boeing 737-7N6/BBJ, both belonging to the Nigerian federal government and stationed at Paris-Le Bourget and Basel-Mulhouse airports.
Zhongshan announced the release of the Airbus A330 as a goodwill gesture, acknowledging that Nigerian President Ahmed Bola Tinubu requires the aircraft for an upcoming meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
A spokesperson for Zhongshan stated that the company has consistently acted fairly in a legal dispute with Nigeria, which it did not initiate. The spokesperson emphasized that the release of the aircraft is intended to facilitate President Tinubu’s trip, while the company remains committed to negotiations with the Nigerian government to reach a swift and reasonable compromise.
The Nigerian government has been pursuing legal and diplomatic measures to secure the release of the aircraft, which are considered sovereign assets and, therefore, immune from attachment. The Federal Government had initiated legal steps in response to the interim seizure of the three presidential aircraft, detained by ex parte orders issued by the Paris Judicial Court on March 7 and August 12, 2024.
The Special Adviser to the President on Communication and Publicity at the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kamarudeen Ogundele, confirmed that the Offices of the National Security Adviser and Attorney-General of the Federation are actively addressing the issue.
Zhongshan remains confident in the arbitral panel’s ruling, which was unanimously in the company’s favor. The company’s spokesperson noted that courts in several countries have upheld the panel’s decision to award compensation, further legitimizing Zhongshan’s stance.
The ongoing dispute between the Ogun State government and Zhongshan dates back to 2016, when the state revoked Zhongshan’s contract to manage an export processing zone. This led to international legal actions, resulting in the seizure of the jets. Despite efforts by the Nigerian federal government to resolve the dispute, the situation remains unresolved, with both sides continuing to pursue their respective legal rights.
