Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd, a Chinese company, has announced the release of one of three Nigerian aircraft, an Airbus A330, that had been detained in France following a court order.
THEWILL previously reported that ex-parte orders from the Judicial Court of Paris, issued on March 7 and August 12, 2024, authorized the seizure of three presidential jets that were undergoing routine maintenance in France and Switzerland. The seized aircraft include a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737, and a newly acquired Airbus A330, which is valued at over $100 million.
The orders were secured by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd to enforce a $74.5 million arbitral award granted in its favor in 2021 against Ogun State.
In a statement released on Friday, a spokesperson for the firm explained that the Airbus A330 was released as a goodwill gesture, recognizing that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu requires the aircraft for a scheduled meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The statement added: “Zhongshan has consistently acted reasonably and fairly in a legal dispute with Nigeria, which it did not initiate.”
