By Rachael Omidiji
Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd has announced the release of one of the three Nigerian Airbus A330 aircraft detained in France, following a court order obtained from a Paris judicial court.
In a statement issued on Friday, a company spokesperson said the release was a gesture of goodwill, acknowledging that Nigerian President Ahmed Bola Tinubu requires the aircraft for a scheduled meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The statement read: “Zhongshan has consistently acted reasonably and fairly in a legal dispute with Nigeria, which it did not initiate.
The company has been informed that an Airbus A330, currently detained in France due to a French court order obtained by Zhongshan, is needed by the President of Nigeria for his upcoming meeting with President Macron next week. As a goodwill gesture, Zhongshan has lifted the seizure, allowing the aircraft to be used for the President’s trip.”
The spokesperson added that the company remains committed to negotiations with the Nigerian government, with hopes of reaching a “reasonable compromise swiftly.”
On Thursday, the Federal Government confirmed it had initiated legal steps to address the interim seizure of the three presidential aircraft in France.
The aircraft, which were undergoing routine maintenance, were detained following ex parte orders issued by the Paris Judicial Court on March 7 and August 12, 2024.
These orders were obtained by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd, a Chinese company seeking to enforce an arbitral award granted in 2021 against Ogun State, a Nigerian sub-national entity.
In a press release by Kamarudeen Ogundele, Special Adviser to the President on Communication and Publicity at the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Offices of the National Security Adviser and Attorney-General of the Federation confirmed they are pursuing both legal and diplomatic measures to secure the release of the aircraft.
Ogundele emphasized that the aircraft are sovereign assets, used exclusively for sovereign purposes, and are therefore immune from attachment.
Meanwhile, Zhongshan reiterated its confidence in the arbitral panel’s ruling, which was unanimously in the company’s favor.
The spokesperson highlighted that courts in multiple countries have upheld the panel’s decision to award compensation, further legitimizing the company’s stance.
“Zhongshan has only sought to assert its rights under international law and remains confident in its case. The independent arbitral panel found unanimously in our favor, and courts in several countries have affirmed the panel’s award of compensation. The French court had all the relevant facts when it made its decision,” the spokesperson stated.
