Prince Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo, an international lawyer and former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 election, has described the recent seizure of a Nigerian aircraft in France as a “temporary embarrassment.” In an interview, Adebayo explained that the legal dispute stems from a conflict between the Ogun State government and a Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited. The issue arose when the Ogun State government allegedly breached a contract with the company, leading to arbitration and the subsequent legal actions.
Adebayo clarified that, under international law, Nigeria, as a sovereign state, is responsible for the actions of its sub-national entities, such as state governments. He emphasized that while the aircraft’s seizure is temporary, it highlights the importance of upholding commercial reputations and resolving disputes efficiently to avoid damaging Nigeria’s international standing.
He also noted that the assets of a sovereign state used for diplomatic purposes, like the presidential jets, are typically immune from permanent seizure under international law. Despite this, he warned that Nigeria must take care of its obligations to avoid long-term damage to its reputation and relationships with international investors.
