Nigeria Moves to Reclaim Seized Presidential Aircraft in France
The Nigerian government is working to recover three presidential aircraft seized in France due to a legal dispute involving Ogun State and a Chinese company. The aircraft, which were undergoing routine maintenance, were detained following a Paris court order linked to a 2021 arbitration award against Ogun State.
Kamarudeen Ogundele, spokesperson for the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, confirmed the government’s awareness of the situation on August 14, 2024. The aircraft were attached based on ex parte orders issued by the Judicial Court of Paris in March and August 2024, at the request of Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited.
The dispute centers on a contractual disagreement over the management of the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone, leading to the Chinese company targeting federal assets to enforce its arbitration win.The Nigerian government strongly contests the seizure, asserting the aircraft are sovereign assets immune from such actions. The AGF’s office, in collaboration with the National Security Adviser, is pursuing legal and diplomatic efforts to secure the release of the planes.
This case underscores the complexities of international arbitration and the broader diplomatic challenges that can arise from local disputes.
