{"id":17538,"date":"2024-08-15T20:35:22","date_gmt":"2024-08-15T19:35:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thedailyleaks.com\/?p=17538"},"modified":"2024-08-15T20:35:22","modified_gmt":"2024-08-15T19:35:22","slug":"french-court-orders-seizure-of-nigerian-jets-amid-legal-dispute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedailyleaks.com\/french-court-orders-seizure-of-nigerian-jets-amid-legal-dispute\/","title":{"rendered":"French court orders seizure of Nigerian jets amid legal dispute"},"content":{"rendered":"
By Gideon Maxwell<\/p>\n
August 15, 2024<\/b><\/p>\n
A French court has ordered the seizure of three aircraft associated with the Nigerian government, including a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus A330, valued at over $100 million.<\/p>\n
This action follows a legal dispute involving Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd., a Chinese company, and the Ogun State government over a revoked contract from 2016.<\/p>\n
The court’s decision was based on an arbitration ruling that awarded Zhongshan approximately $74.5 million due to the Ogun State government’s failure to honour the contract.<\/p>\n
The jets, currently undergoing maintenance in Paris and Switzerland, are restricted from movement until the award is paid.<\/p>\n
The Nigerian government has criticised the seizure, asserting it has no contractual obligations to Zhongshan and plans to contest the court’s decision, claiming the company misled the court.<\/p>\n
Contractual dispute<\/b><\/p>\n
In 2010, Zhongshan’s parent company, Zhuhai Zhongfu Industrial Group Co. Ltd., entered into a partnership with Ogun State to develop the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone.<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:\u00a0Nigerian doctors threaten strike over Dr Ganiyat Popoola\u2019s 8-month abduction<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n However, in July 2016, the Ogun State government terminated Zhongshan’s management contract, leading to claims of contractual breaches and illegal actions against the company.<\/p>\n Zhongshan subsequently initiated arbitration proceedings under the bilateral investment treaty between Nigeria and China.<\/p>\n Arbitration rulings<\/b><\/p>\n In March 2021, an arbitration tribunal awarded Zhongshan approximately $55.7 million, plus interest and legal costs, citing Nigeria’s breach of obligations under the treaty.<\/p>\n Despite Nigeria’s attempts to assert state immunity, courts in the UK ruled against these claims, stating that Nigeria failed to meet the necessary deadlines for appeals.<\/p>\n Recent developments<\/b><\/p>\n The French court’s ruling to seize the jets is a direct consequence of Nigeria’s failure to comply with the arbitration award.<\/p>\n The jets, which were undergoing maintenance at Paris-Le Bourget and Basel-Mulhouse airports, are now restricted from movement, sale, or purchase until Zhongshan receives the owed compensation.<\/p>\n This situation is compounded by the recent seizure of Nigerian properties in Liverpool, England, related to the same dispute.<\/p>\n Government response<\/b><\/p>\n The Nigerian government has publicly stated that it has no contractual obligations to Zhongshan and is contesting the court’s decision.<\/p>\n The Presidency emphasised that the dispute is between Zhongshan and Ogun State, asserting that it is actively seeking an amicable resolution.<\/p>\n Critics, including political figures like Peter Obi, have condemned the situation as an embarrassment and a reflection of leadership failures in Nigeria.<\/p>\n This ongoing legal battle highlights the complexities of international business agreements and the repercussions of local governmental decisions on national assets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Gideon Maxwell August 15, 2024 A French court has ordered the seizure of three aircraft associated with the Nigerian government, including a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus A330, valued at […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17539,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,2],"tags":[175,3170,448,3171],"coauthors":[25],"class_list":{"0":"post-17538","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-latest-news","8":"category-top-news","9":"tag-chinese","10":"tag-jets","11":"tag-nigerian","12":"tag-seize"},"yoast_head":"\n