Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, has released one of the seized Nigerian presidential jets.
A representative of the Chinese firm said Friday that the aircraft was being released to allow President Bola Tinubu to fly in it as prepares to visit France next week for a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron.
“Zhongshan has consistently sought to act reasonably and fairly in the course of a legal dispute with Nigeria which was not of its making,” the official told this Premium Times.
“It (Zhongshan) has now been made aware that an Airbus A330, currently detained in France as a result of a French court order obtained by Zhongshan, is needed for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to travel to a scheduled meeting with President Macron of France early next week.
“As a gesture of goodwill, Zhongshan has lifted the seizure of that aircraft immediately. This will allow it to be used for the President’s trip.
“Zhongshan remains committed to talks with representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, this time serious and substantive on both sides, with a view to reaching a reasonable compromise settlement rapidly.”
Zhongshan, the Chinese firm had secured a court order to confiscate three Nigerian presidential jets pending when Zhongshan received $74.5 million awarded to it against Nigeria. The firm had entered into a contract with the Ogun State government to develop a free trade zone in 2007, but it was cancelled by the administration of governor Ibikunle Amosun in 2015.
