A French court has ordered the seizure of three presidential jets linked to the Federal Government of Nigeria over a contractual disagreement between Ogun State and a Chinese company, Zhongshan.
The seized jets are two of the jets in the Nigerian presidential air fleet, which were recently put up for sale, while the third, an Airbus 330, was purchased by Nigeria but not yet delivered.
The report published by Premium Times, has it that Zhongshan dragged Ogun State government before an independent arbitral tribunal chaired by the former President of the UK Supreme Court.
In the suit, the company accused the state government of revoking a management contract award for export processing zone in 2016 earlier awarded it.
Subsequently, the court, according to the publication ruled in favour of Zhongshan by awarding $74.5 million in compensation.
In turn, the failure of Ogun State government to honour the award made the Enforcement Judge at the Paris Judicial Court to order seizure of the three jets.
“The seized presidential jets include a Dassault Falcon 7X at Le Bourget airport in Paris, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus 330 at Basel-Mulhouse airport in Switzerland.
“All are currently undergoing maintenance. The Nigerian government reportedly paid over $100 million for the Airbus.
“The court order prohibits the movement, sale, or purchase of the jets until Zhongshan receives the awarded $74.5 million. Bailiffs have served papers for each aircraft,” the publication read in part.
