Chinese Firm Releases Nigerian Presidential Jet for President Tinubu’s Travel

A Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd, has released one of the three Nigerian presidential jets detained in France, following a court order obtained from a Paris judicial court. The release comes ahead of President Bola Tinubu's scheduled meeting with his French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron, next week.

In a statement issued on Friday, a spokesperson for Zhongshan Fucheng confirmed the decision, noting that the company has acted reasonably and fairly in its ongoing legal dispute with the Nigerian government. The spokesperson highlighted the importance of the aircraft for the upcoming diplomatic engagement and framed the release as a gesture of goodwill.

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 stated.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has been actively working to resolve the issue of the detained presidential aircraft, which were seized following ex parte orders from the Paris Judicial Court on March 7 and August 12, 2024. 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, confirmed that the Nigerian government is pursuing both legal and diplomatic channels to ensure the release of all three jets.

Ogundele emphasized that the aircraft are sovereign assets, used exclusively for state purposes, and are therefore protected under international law from seizure or attachment.

Meanwhile, Zhongshan Fucheng remains steadfast in its position, reaffirming confidence in the arbitral panel's ruling, which favored the company. The spokesperson pointed out that courts in multiple countries have upheld the panel’s decision to award compensation to Zhongshan, further legitimizing the company’s actions.

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 added.

The release of the aircraft is expected to ease tensions as both parties continue negotiations, with the hope of reaching a swift and reasonable resolution to the dispute.