French Court Seizes Nigerian Jets because of Long-Standing Dispute with Chinese Firm

A French court has seized three Nigerian government jets amid a dispute with Chinese company Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment over a 2007 contract with Ogun State, Nigeria.

The contract was to develop a free-trade zone but was terminated between 2015 and 2016. Zhongshan claims it was forced out through "illegal acts."

Nigeria condemned the seizure, calling it an attempt to "undercut and scam" the African nation. In 2021, an arbitration tribunal awarded Zhongshan $74.5 million, which Ogun State has refused to pay. The dispute has led to the seizure of Nigerian assets in the UK, the US, and now France.

Nigeria accused Zhongshan of misrepresenting facts in. The incident has sparked public debate over Nigeria's government expenses, with opposition politicians criticizing the ownership of multiple jets amid an economic crisis.