The Nigerian government is actively pursuing legal and diplomatic channels to recover three presidential aircraft seized in France. The aircraft was detained due to a court order linked to a dispute involving Ogun State and a Chinese company. The government asserts the aircraft are sovereign assets immune from seizure.
The Nigerian government has initiated legal and diplomatic measures to secure the release of three presidential aircraft currently held in France. The aircraft, which were undergoing routine maintenance, became the subject of international legal action following a Paris court's order.
According to a statement by Kamarudeen Ogundele, spokesperson for the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, the government became aware of the situation on August 14, 2024. The interim attachment of the aircraft was enforced based on ex parte orders issued by the Judicial Court of Paris on March 7 and August 12, 2024. These orders were requested by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese company that won an arbitration award against Ogun State in 2021.
The dispute stems from a contractual disagreement between Zhongshan and the Ogun State Government over the management of the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone. Although the conflict originated at the state level, international law principles allow the Chinese company to target federal assets to enforce the arbitration award.
The Nigerian government has strongly contested the attachment, asserting that the aircraft are sovereign assets and are therefore immune from seizure. The AGF’s office, in coordination with the National Security Adviser, has vowed to pursue all available legal and diplomatic channels to resolve the issue and ensure the release of the aircraft.
The case highlights the complexities of international arbitration and the potential for local disputes to escalate into broader diplomatic challenges. The government's actions reflect its determination to protect national assets and uphold Nigeria's sovereignty on the global stage.
