Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd announced the release of one of three Nigerian Airbus A330 aircraft detained in France, following a court order from a Paris judicial court.
In a Friday statement, the company said it freed the aircraft as a goodwill gesture, acknowledging that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu needs the plane for an upcoming meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The statement said, “Zhongshan has always acted fairly and reasonably in the legal dispute with Nigeria, which it did not initiate. The company was informed that an Airbus A330, detained in France due to a French court order obtained by Zhongshan, is needed by Nigeria’s President for his meeting with President Macron next week. As a goodwill gesture, Zhongshan has lifted the seizure, allowing the plane to be used for the President’s trip.”
The spokesperson added that the company is committed to continuing negotiations with the Nigerian government, hoping to reach a “reasonable compromise swiftly.”
On Thursday, the Nigerian government confirmed it had taken legal steps to address the interim seizure of the three presidential aircraft in France. The planes, which were undergoing routine maintenance, were detained following ex parte orders from the Paris Judicial Court on March 7 and August 12, 2024.
These orders were obtained by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd, a Chinese company seeking to enforce a 2021 arbitral award against Ogun State, a Nigerian sub-national entity.
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Good for them
Noted