Chinese firm Zhongshan announces readiness to negotiate with Nigerian government over seized presidential jets
Zhongshan, the Chinese company at the centre of a dispute with the Nigerian government over the seizure of three presidential jets, has announced readiness with the government.
The company’s statement comes after a French court authorized the seizure of the three presidential jets linked to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The court order prohibits the jets’ movement, sale, or purchase until Zhongshan receives $74.5 million awarded to the company.
According to Premium Times, it was reported that the company, Zhongshan on Thursday, 15th August 2024 sent a statement emphasised its confidence in the legal process and the arbitral ruling in its favour.
Zhongshan said it has only ever sought to assert its rights under international law and is confident in its case.
The statement reads “Zhongshan has only ever sought to assert its rights under international law and is confident in its case. The independent arbitral panel found unanimously in its favor, and courts in multiple countries have upheld the view that the panel’s compensation should be enforced. The French court was fully aware of the facts when it reached its decision.”
“Far from being just a fence, the Ogun Free Trade Zone was featured as a significant international investment by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
“Zhongshan has for a long time been ready to enter serious negotiations with the federal government of Nigeria to settle this case and still awaits an indication that the government is equally willing,” the statement said.
Recall the Presidency, on Thursday, said Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited is trying to arm-twist the Nigerian government to take over offshore assets of the federal government of Nigeria through subterfuge.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, explained that the Federal Government is not under any contractual obligation with the company.
Onanuga, in a statement, said the case in which Zhongshan is trying to use every unorthodox means to strip Nigeria’s offshore assets is between the company and the Ogun State government.
He noted that the federal government is fully aware of efforts being made by the Ogun State Government to reach an amicable resolution on the matter.
“It must be said without any equivocation that Zhongshan has no solid ground to demand restitution from the Ogun State Government based on the facts regarding the 2007 contract between the company and the State Government to manage a free-trade zone,” Onanuga said.
He revealed that as at the time the contract with Ogun State was revoked in 2015, the company had only erected a perimeter fence on the land earmarked for a free trade zone.
“While the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is working with the Ogun State Government on an amicable resolution, Zhongshan obtained two orders from the Judicial Court of Paris dated March 7, 2024, and August 12, 2024, without any notice being duly served on the Federal Government of Nigeria and Ogun State Government.
“This arm-twisting tactic by the Chinese company is the latest in a long list of failed moves to attach Nigerian government-owned assets in foreign jurisdictions.
“The material facts in the transaction between the Ogun State Government and Zhongshan point to another P&ID case in which unscrupulous and questionable individuals falsely present themselves as investors with the sole objective of undercutting and scamming Governments in Africa.
“Undoubtedly, Zhongshan withheld vital information and misled the Judicial Court in Paris into attaching the Nigerian government’s presidential jets, which are on routine maintenance in France. The use and nature of the Presidential jets as assets of a Sovereign entity whose assets are protected by diplomatic immunity forbid any foreign Court from issuing an order against them.
“We are convinced the Chinese company misled the Judicial Court of Paris regarding the use and nature of the assets it seeks to attach and did not fully disclose to the court as required by law.”
He stated that the same Chinese company had tried to enforce its questionable judgment in the UK and USA but failed.
“Like the P&ID case, foreign companies are trying to defraud Nigeria with the collaboration of some bureaucrats. Zhongshan appeared to have sold the judgment they got to a venture capitalist seeking to make money by embarrassing the Federal Government and President Bola Tinubu.”
The Presidency assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is working with the Ogun State Government to discharge this frivolous order in Paris immediately.
“Nigerian Government will always work to protect our national assets from predators and shylocks who masquerade as investors,” Onanuga added.
