Why Chinese Company Released New Presidential Jet For Tinubu

Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd has announced the release of one of the three Nigerian presidential jets detained in France, following a court order from a Paris judicial court.

The company made this decision to release one of the presidential jets as a goodwill gesture to facilitate Nigerian President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s upcoming meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

In a statement released on Friday, a spokesperson for Zhongshan Fucheng confirmed that the aircraft’s release was in recognition of its importance for President Tinubu’s scheduled diplomatic engagement. “Zhongshan has consistently acted reasonably and fairly in a legal dispute with Nigeria, which it did not initiate. We understand that one of the Airbus A330s detained in France is essential for President Tinubu’s meeting with President Macron next week. As a goodwill gesture, we have lifted the seizure to allow the aircraft to be used for the President’s trip,” the statement read.

The spokesperson also emphasized the company’s commitment to ongoing negotiations with the Nigerian government, expressing hope for a swift and reasonable resolution to the ongoing legal dispute that may lead to the release of the other presidential jets.

This development comes just a day after the Nigerian Federal Government confirmed it had initiated legal measures to address the interim seizure of the three presidential aircraft. The aircraft were detained while undergoing routine maintenance in France, following ex parte orders issued by the Paris Judicial Court on March 7 and August 12, 2024. These orders were secured by Zhongshan Fucheng in an effort to enforce an arbitral award granted in 2021 against Ogun State, a sub-national entity in Nigeria.

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, revealed that the Nigerian government is pursuing both legal and diplomatic avenues to secure the release of the detained aircraft. Ogundele underscored that the aircraft are sovereign assets, used exclusively for governmental purposes, and are therefore protected by diplomatic immunity from attachment.

Despite the ongoing dispute, Zhongshan Fucheng remains steadfast in its belief in the legitimacy of the arbitral panel’s ruling, which was unanimously in the company’s favor. The spokesperson reiterated that courts in several countries have upheld the compensation awarded by the panel, further validating the company’s position. “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 concluded.
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