Chinese firm, Zhongshan releases one of three Nigerian aircraft detained in France

Following a court decision issued by a Parisian Justice Court, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited has announced the release of one of the three Nigerian aircraft, an Airbus A330, that was detained in France.

The firm’s representative said on Friday that the aircraft’s release is a benevolent gesture because they were informed that President Bola Tinubu will require it for a planned meeting with President Emmanuel Macron of France.

According to the spokesman, the company is still dedicated to holding negotiations with the Nigerian Government to quickly arrive at a reasonable compromise.

Earlier on Thursday, the Federal Government reported that it has initiated legal steps to address the interim seizure of the three presidential aircraft in France.

The aircraft, which were undergoing routine maintenance, were temporarily seized following ex parte orders issued by the Judicial Court of Paris on March 7 and August 12, 2024.

These orders were obtained by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese company seeking to enforce an arbitral award granted in its favor in 2021 against Ogun State, a sub-national entity in Nigeria.

Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd expressed their continued faith in the arbitral panel’s ruling, which was made in their favor by a unanimous vote.

The arbitral panel tasked with resolving the dispute, according to the company’s spokesperson, decisively ruled in favor of Zhongshan and recommended the award of compensation. This decision was upheld by courts across multiple countries, further bolstering the legitimacy of the panel’s findings.