The Presidency has responded to reports of a French court ordering the seizure of three Nigerian Presidential jets, citing a botched deal between the Ogun State government and a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited.
In a statement, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, accused the company of misleading the court, saying: “The Presidency is aware of the various failed attempts by a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, to take over offshore assets of the Federal Government of Nigeria through subterfuge.”
Onanuga emphasized that the Federal Government has no contractual obligations with the company, and the case is between Zhongshan and the Ogun State Government. He added: “The Federal Government is fully aware of efforts being made by the Ogun State Government to reach an amicable resolution on the matter.”
The Presidency denied Zhongshan’s claims, stating: “It must be said without any equivocation that Zhongshan has no solid ground to demand restitution from the Ogun State Government based on the facts regarding the 2007 contract between the company and the State Government to manage a free-trade zone.”
Onanuga criticized Zhongshan’s tactics, saying: “This arm-twisting tactic by the Chinese company is the latest in a long list of failed moves to attach Nigerian government-owned assets in foreign jurisdictions.”
He also drew parallels with the P&ID case, stating: “The material facts in the transaction between the Ogun State Government and Zhongshan point to another P&ID case in which unscrupulous and questionable individuals falsely present themselves as investors with the sole objective of undercutting and scamming Governments in Africa.”
The Presidency assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is working with the Ogun State Government to discharge the order, saying: “We want to assure Nigerians that the Federal Government is working with the Ogun State Government to discharge this frivolous order in Paris immediately.”
