International
Zhongshan Fuchen Seize Another Nigeria’s Presidential Jet In Canada
The firm, in pursuit of enforcement of its arbitration awards of over $70m against Nigeria, Zhongshang has taken into hostage, several Nigerian assets overseas…
The ongoing muscular legal battles between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd, arising from a failed contractual relationship, has taken another dramatic turn as the firm has seized another Nigeria’s Presidential Jet in Canada.
The Chinese firm involved in the controversial seizure of three Nigeria’s presidential jets in France and other assets in some other countries, has grabbed another big catch of Nigeria’s asset in far away Canada.
Recall that the company had released one of the three aircraft as a gesture of goodwill in order to aid the Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on a scheduled meeting between his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron.
The Nigeria’s President travelled to France on Monday aboard the released Airbus A330 business jet, amidst controversies surrounding its purchase, after it was released by the Chinese firm.
READ ALSO: China, Nigeria, and Hostage Aircraft
Bill Seeking 25-year Jail Term For Secession Agitation Is Draconian And Unconstitutional-Lawyer
Judgment Seizing Nigeria’s Aircraft Is Temporal Setback, Would Be Vacated Soon – Prince Adebayo
Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah Dies In London At 52, Life and Achievements
At the wake of the ongoing legal actions against the FG by the Chinese firm, many prominent Nigerians from different quarters, economic and international relation experts have widely condemned the way and manner the government breeched the contractual relationship with the Chinese firm.
Zhongshan Fucheng, recently, received a change of custodian paperwork for the Bombardier 6000 type BD-700-1A10 aircraft from Canadian authorities in Montreal months after a Quebec court issued a judgement that empowered Zhongshang to seize the jet from Nigeria.
The firm, in pursuit of enforcement of its arbitration awards of over $70m against Nigeria, Zhongshang has taken into hostage, several Nigerian assets overseas, including two properties in Liverpool, a Dassault Falcon 7X in Paris, a Boeing 737, an Airbus A330 valued at over $100m with the Bombardier 6000 in Canada being the latest.
Recall that in March 21, 2024, Judge David Collier of the Superior Court of Quebec dismissed Nigeria’s attempt to retain ownership of the Bombardier 6000 jet, which records show was acquired for $57m by Dan Etete, a fugitive, as part of a massive spending spree following his receipt of over $350m from the corrupt sale of the OPL 245 oil field in 2010.
The former governor of Anambra and the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Mr. Gregory Peter Obi, took a swipe on the Tinubu-led federal government over the seized aircrafts, describing it a result of failed leadership and bad attitude to the rule of law in the country.
In his words: “The trending international news on the seizure of three Jets belonging to Nigeria’s Presidential fleet is yet another of many embarrassing things exposing our failed leadership and our attitude to the rule of law even in a democracy.”