The Nigerian Federal Government has initiated both legal and diplomatic measures to address the recent seizure of three presidential aircraft undergoing routine maintenance in France.
The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) are spearheading efforts to overturn what the government describes as inappropriate orders issued against these sovereign assets.
This development was disclosed by Kamarudeen Ogundele, spokesperson for AGF Lateef Fagbemi, who revealed that the government became aware of the interim attachment of the aircraft on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.
The temporary seizure was carried out under ex parte orders from the Judicial Court of Paris, dated March 7 and August 12, 2024, at the behest of Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese company.
The orders were made as part of an enforcement action related to a $74.5 million arbitral award granted to Zhongshan in March 2021. The award stemmed from a contractual dispute between the company and the Ogun State Government over the operation and management of the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone.
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Although the dispute originated with Ogun State, the enforcement actions have been directed against the Federal Government, reflecting international law principles that attribute the actions of subnational entities to the state itself. In response, the Nigerian government has underscored that the seized aircraft are sovereign assets used exclusively for sovereign purposes, rendering them immune from attachment.
The government has assured that all necessary legal and diplomatic steps are being taken to resolve the matter and secure the release of the aircraft.
