Chinese Firm Releases Seized Presidential Jet
One of the three Nigerian Airbus A330 aircraft detained in France by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd has been released.
Osun Defender reports that the Chinese company detained the aircrafts following a court order obtained from a Paris judicial court.
The company’s spokesperson who disclosed this on Friday in a statement, said the release was a gesture of goodwill, acknowledging that Nigerian President Ahmed Bola Tinubu requires the aircraft for a scheduled meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The statement read: “Zhongshan has consistently acted reasonably and fairly in a legal dispute with Nigeria, which it did not initiate.
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“The company has been informed that an Airbus A330, currently detained in France due to a French court order obtained by Zhongshan, is needed by the President of Nigeria for his upcoming meeting with President Macron next week. As a goodwill gesture, Zhongshan has lifted the seizure, allowing the aircraft to be used for the President’s trip.”
The spokesperson added that the company remains committed to negotiations with the Nigerian government, with hopes of reaching a “reasonable compromise swiftly.”
On Thursday, the Federal Government confirmed it had initiated legal steps to address the interim seizure of the three presidential aircraft in France.
The aircraft, which were undergoing routine maintenance, were detained following ex parte orders issued by the Paris Judicial Court on March 7 and August 12, 2024.
