Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial investment officials have explained the reason the company released its grip on one of Nigerian presidential jets.
The Chinese company on court orders seized three presidential jets: a Dassault Falcon 7X , a Boeing 737 and an Airbus 330 purchased by Nigeria but not yet delivered.
The order and the consequent seizure followed the failure of Ogun State Government to pay $74.5m awarded the company by UK Supreme Court as compensation for revoking the management of Export Processing Zones contract the government gave Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial investment.
The latter in a new twist freed the Airbus 330 that set the country back about $100m.
The company via a statement its spokesperson released on Friday said it chose to release the jet to enable President Bola Tinubu to use it.
“Zhongshan has been made aware that an Airbus A330, currently detained in France as a result of a French court order obtained by Zhongshan, is needed for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to travel to a scheduled meeting with President Macron of France early next week.
“As a gesture of goodwill, Zhongshan has lifted the seizure of that aircraft immediately. This will allow it to be used for the president’s trip,” the statement reads in part.
