The Nigerian government, through the National Security Adviser, NSA alongside Attorney General of the Federation and minister of Justice has initiated both diplomatic and legal actions to recover three presidential aircraft seized in France over outstanding debts.
The presidency had earlier raised concerns about an attempt by a Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, to seize Nigeria’s presidential jets undergoing routine maintenance in France.
Reports had suggested that the seizure was a result of the government’s failure to honour a 60 million dollar award granted to the company by an independent tribunal, chaired by the former President of the UK Supreme Court.
However, a statement by the AGF’s spokesperson, Kamarudeen Ogundele, maintained that the debt which led to the seizure of the presidential aircraft was incurred in 2015 by the Ogun State Government in a contractual agreement with the Chinese company in 2007, to manage a free trade zone, FTZ.
He said diplomatic and legal actions are being taken to resolve the dispute and reclaim the three presidential aircraft which he said remains sovereign assets used solely for sovereign purposes.