In a surprising turn of events, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese company, has released one of the three Nigerian presidential jets seized in France.
The decision comes as the company is engaged in a legal dispute with Nigeria over a $74.5 million award.
According to a spokesperson for the company, Zhongshan released the aircraft, an Airbus A330, as a gesture of goodwill to facilitate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s upcoming trip to France to meet with President Macron. The company had secured a court order to confiscate the jets pending payment of the outstanding debt.
The release of the aircraft is seen as a conciliatory move by Zhongshan, which has been trying to negotiate a settlement with Nigeria. The company’s spokesperson stated that Zhongshan has always sought to act reasonably and fairly in the dispute, which was not of its making.
However, the Nigerian government has been adamant that the seizure of the jets is baseless and that it will not be bullied into paying the debt. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has stated that the government is working with the Ogun State government to quash the order and protect Nigeria’s national assets.
Onanuga accused Zhongshan of using unorthodox means to strip Nigeria of its offshore assets and noted that the company has no solid ground to demand restitution from the Ogun State government. He also compared the situation to the P&ID case, where unscrupulous individuals falsely presented themselves as investors to cheat and scam governments in Africa.
The Nigerian government has vowed to work tirelessly to protect its national assets from predators and shylocks who masquerade as investors. The government has also promised to discharge the frivolous order in Paris immediately and ensure that Nigeria’s sovereignty is not compromised.
The development is seen as a significant breakthrough in the ongoing dispute between Zhongshan and Nigeria, and it remains to be seen whether the two parties can reach a mutually beneficial agreement.
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