The release of one of the three Nigerian presidential jets seized by a French court has been announced by Chinese firm Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Company.
In a statement on Friday, a spokesperson for the company confirmed this development.
According to the company, the gesture to release the aircraft was made in consideration of the upcoming meeting between Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron, for which the jet was required.
“Zhongshan was informed that the Airbus A330 currently detained in France due to a court order obtained by the company will be needed for the President of Nigeria to travel for a scheduled meeting with President Macron,” the company explained.
“As a goodwill gesture, Zhongshan has lifted the seizure of the aircraft promptly so it can facilitate the President’s trip,” the company added.
Previously, the company had obtained court orders to seize a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737-7N6/BBJ, and an Airbus A330-243 belonging to the Nigerian government, located at airports in France.
This situation arose from a contract terminated by the government of Ogun State in 2016.
Such legal disputes are not uncommon, as foreign companies accuse Nigeria of breaching agreements, leading to arbitration proceedings.
On Thursday, the Nigerian government declared that it had initiated legal and diplomatic actions to address the temporary seizure of the three presidential aircraft in France.