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Jet Seizure: We Are Ready To Settle With Nigerian Govt – Chinese Firm, Zhongshan
Zhongshan, the Chinese company embroiled in a legal battle with the Ogun State government, has expressed a willingness to settle with the Nigerian government following a French court’s authorization to seize three Nigerian presidential jets.
The court’s ruling restricts the movement, sale, or purchase of the aircraft until Zhongshan receives $74.5 million, as awarded in an arbitration decision.
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The jets, including a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus A330, were undergoing maintenance in France and Switzerland when the seizure orders were issued.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that this action is part of Zhongshan’s efforts to enforce the arbitration award granted in March 2021 after the Ogun State government revoked the company’s export processing zone management contract in 2016.
In a statement to Premium Times on Thursday, Zhongshan confirmed its readiness to negotiate a settlement with the Nigerian government to resolve the ongoing dispute.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government, through the National Security Adviser and the Attorney-General’s offices, is challenging the court orders to secure the release of the seized jets.
The government argues that the aircraft are sovereign assets, used exclusively for official purposes, and therefore immune from such legal actions.
Jet Seizure Nigerian Chinese Zhongshan
The statement reads, “Zhongshan has only ever sought to assert its rights under international law and is confident in its case.
The independent arbitral panel was found unanimously in its favour, and courts in multiple countries have upheld the view that the panel’s compensation should be enforced.
The French court was fully aware of the facts when it reached its decision.
“Far from being just a fence, the Ogun Free Trade Zone was featured as a significant international investment by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
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“Zhongshan has for a long time been ready to enter serious negotiations with the federal government of Nigeria to settle this case and still awaits an indication that the government is equally willing.”
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