- Police refute involvement while Ogun refrains from comment
In a recent development, the management of Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Company Limited, a Chinese firm, has claimed that their senior officials were illegally detained and subjected to brutality by the police during a contractual dispute with the Ogun State Government.
The firm explained that the mistreatment they endured led them to pursue the seizure of Nigerian assets abroad.
Reports surfaced on Thursday regarding the seizure of three of Nigeria’s presidential jets by a French court, following legal actions initiated by the Chinese company against both the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Ogun State Government due to the termination of a contract.
The seized jets, including a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus 330, were part of Nigeria’s presidential air fleet, with two of them recently marked for sale, and the third Airbus 330 purchased but undelivered.
The court orders for seizure were issued on March 7 and August 12, 2024, subsequent to an arbitral tribunal awarding Zhongshan approximately $74.5 million in compensation.
Despite the tribunal’s ruling, the Ogun State Government did not comply, prompting Zhongshan to seek the intervention of the French court which led to the seizure of the Nigerian government’s jets.
Zhongshan vehemently rejected all settlement offers from the Ogun State Government, citing the alleged assault on its officials as a major hindrance in reaching an agreement.
The firm claimed that members of its management team in Nigeria were subjected to physical harm and threats by the Ogun State Government, which purportedly utilized the police to assault, intimidate, and unlawfully detain its employees after revoking their export processing zone management contract.
Through its legal representatives, Withers LLP and Radix Legal & Consulting Limited, Zhongshan asserted that it incurred losses amounting to $1.078 billion due to the contract termination.
The firm accused Nigerian authorities of engaging in draconian actions, with specific incidents narrated by Mr. Wenxiao Zhao, the Chief Financial Officer of Zhongfu Nigeria Ltd.
Zhao recounted his harrowing experience in police custody during which he was physically assaulted and subjected to inhumane treatment without any legal basis.
Following these events, the management team of Zhongfu Nigeria felt compelled to exit Nigeria as their rights and investments were severely compromised by the actions of the Ogun State Government, NEPZA, and the police.
When approached for a response to these allegations, the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, expressed ignorance regarding the claims made by the Chinese firm and declined to comment.
On the other hand, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Office, Omolola Odutola, denied any involvement in the matter, stating that it was not a police-related issue.
Former Nigerian ambassador to the Philippines, Yemi Farounbi, criticized the seizure of the presidential jets as an unnecessary diplomatic blunder, attributing it to the irresponsible actions of certain state governments.
Farounbi emphasized the importance of scrutinizing foreign contracts to avoid jeopardizing the country’s future and assets through unfavorable agreements.
In a recent development, one of the seized jets was reportedly released for the use of President Bola Tinubu, who is scheduled to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron.
A spokesperson for Zhongshan explained that the company, in a gesture of goodwill, lifted the seizure of an Airbus A330 to facilitate the President of Nigeria’s upcoming trip to meet with President Macron.