Chinese firm releases 1 seized Nigerian presidential jet

A Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co Limited, which confiscated three of Nigeria’s aircraft in Paris on Friday, released one of the aircraft, an Airbus A380 recently acquired to replace former Air Force One.

But Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment still held on to two of the country’s aircraft.

French court had authorised the seizure of the three presidential jets due to the ongoing dispute between Zhongshan and the Ogun State government.

The seized aircraft include a Dassault Falcon 7X at Le Bourget Airport in Paris, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus 330 at Basel-Mulhouse Airport in Switzerland.

The aircrafts undergoing routine maintenance in France and Switzerland, were seized following orders issued by the Judicial Court of Paris on March 7 and August 12, 2024.

Meanwhile, the legal face-off stems from a 2016 decision by the Ogun state government to revoke Zhongshan’s export processing zone management contract, which resulted to a long legal battle that has now spilled over into international courts.

On Friday, spokesman of the Chinese firm stated that one of the seized jets was released to accommodate President Bola Tinubu’s upcoming meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

The image maker explained that Zhongshan’s decision to lift the seizure was a gesture of goodwill to support the President’s travel plans.

The company however, said it remains open to negotiating with the Nigerian government to achieve a fair resolution.

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