The Ogun State government has condemned the judicial actions leading to the provisional seizure of three Nigerian presidential jets by the Judicial Court of Paris. The court ordered the seizures in March and August 2024, as part of an ongoing legal dispute with Chinese company Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd.
The jets, including a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737, and a newly acquired Airbus A330, were seized while undergoing maintenance in France and Switzerland. The dispute arises from a contract dispute dating back to 2007 between the Ogun State government and Zhongshan.
In a statement, the Ogun State government, represented by Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, accused Zhongshan of deliberately concealing the litigation from Nigerian authorities, allowing the company to secure seizure orders without full disclosure. The state compared the situation to the notorious P&ID case, labeling it another attempt by foreign entities to defraud Nigeria.
The Ogun State and Federal Government have taken immediate steps to reverse the seizures and criticized Zhongshan for reneging on previous efforts to reach an amicable resolution.
