ABUJA – The Presidency and Ogun State Government are actively working to reverse recent court orders issued by the Judicial Court of Paris that led to the seizure of three Nigerian presidential jets. The jets were seized on March 7 and August 12, 2024, following legal action by the Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Company, over a longstanding contract dispute.
The case traces back to a 2007 contract between Ogun State and Zhongshan for the management of a free-trade zone. After disagreements arose in 2015, arbitration proceedings commenced, culminating in a $60 million judgment against the Nigerian government in 2019, despite the Chinese firm only constructing a perimeter fence at the site.
Despite Ogun State's efforts to contest the arbitration award across multiple jurisdictions, including successful resistance in the U.S. and U.K., Zhongshan proceeded with enforcement actions in France. The Federal Government claims that it was not properly notified of these proceedings and views the court orders as an attempt to unjustly strip Nigeria of its assets.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, described the orders as baseless and a tactic to coerce Nigeria. He stressed that the jets are sovereign assets protected by diplomatic immunity, rendering their seizure illegal. Ogun State has similarly condemned the legal process as fraudulent and misleading, arguing that Zhongshan concealed critical information from the court.
Negotiations between Ogun State and Zhongshan reportedly stalled after an attempt to reach an amicable resolution in September 2023. Since then, the Chinese firm has pursued aggressive enforcement actions. Both the Federal and Ogun State governments remain committed to lifting the seizures and safeguarding Nigeria's assets.
The situation has drawn comparisons to the notorious Process and Industrial Development Limited (P&ID) case, where Nigeria successfully challenged a $10 billion arbitration award.
Meanwhile, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi criticized the entire affair as an international embarrassment, pointing to it as yet another example of leadership failure and poor governance in Nigeria. He called for greater transparency and accountability from the government regarding the management of national assets.
The Ogun State Government maintains that it will continue pursuing a fair settlement while protecting the interests of its citizens and resisting what it describes as an unjust claim by Zhongshan.
