Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd has announced the release of one of the three Nigerian Airbus A330 aircraft previously detained in France.
This decision follows a court order from a Paris judicial court and is intended to facilitate Nigerian President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s upcoming meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
In a statement released today, a company spokesperson explained, “Zhongshan has consistently acted reasonably and fairly in a legal dispute with Nigeria, which it did not initiate. We have been informed that one of the detained aircraft is needed by President Tinubu for his scheduled meeting with President Macron next week. As a gesture of goodwill, Zhongshan has decided to lift the seizure, allowing the aircraft to be used for the President’s trip.”
The aircraft were initially detained due to ex parte orders issued by the Paris Judicial Court on March 7 and August 12, 2024. These orders were obtained by Zhongshan in relation to an arbitral award granted in 2021 against Ogun State, Nigeria.
Kamarudeen Ogundele, Special Adviser to the President on Communication and Publicity, stated, “The aircraft are sovereign assets used exclusively for governmental purposes and are thus immune from attachment.” He confirmed that the Federal Government is actively pursuing both legal and diplomatic measures to resolve the situation and secure the release of the remaining aircraft.
Zhongshan reiterated its commitment to ongoing negotiations with the Nigerian government, expressing hope for a “reasonable compromise swiftly.” The company also affirmed its confidence in the arbitral panel’s ruling, which has been supported by courts in various countries.
