Nigerians are irked over the decision of a French court which granted an injunction to a Chinese firm to ground three presidential jets belonging to the Federal Government.
Newspot recalls that Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese firm, recently secured an injunction of the court to seize the Nigerian assets, including a Dassault Falcon 7X in Paris, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus A330 valued at over $100 million.
It was gathered that two of the jets are currently undergoing maintenance in Switzerland.
Newspot also learnt that one of the jets was recently purchased by the Nigerian government.
Zhongshan, the Chinese firm whose export processing zone management contract was revoked by the Ogun State Government in 2016, had sought the intervention of the French court in its dispute with the state government, leading to the order for the seizure of the jets.
It was gathered that the Chinese firm had also concluded plans to seize more Nigerian assets in six other countries, including the United States, Belgium, Canada, France, Singapore and the British Virgin Islands.
Ogun State and the Chinese firm
The Ogun State government under the leadership of the then governor, Gbenga Daniel had in 2007, entered into a joint venture agreement with the Chinese firm to create the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone Company.
The agreement followed a bilateral investment treaty signed by the Nigerian and Chinese governments in 2001.
According to reports, the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone Company in 2010 established a contract with the Zhongshan’s parent company with the aim to develop an industrial park in the free-trade zone and possibly build factories in the park.
The agreement was, however, terminated in 2016, leading to a lawsuit by the Zhongshan company.
It was reported that the Chinese firm had filed lawsuits in Nigerian federal and state courts seeking reinstatement of its contractual rights, but the legal proceedings were discontinued.
But in the recent development, the company dragged the Ogun State government to court in the United Kingdom, UK, where it was awarded $74.5m compensation.
The court order restricted the Nigerian government from either moving or selling the presidential jets pending when the Ogun State government paid the $74.5 million to the Chinese firm.
In another development, the firm alleged that its top officials were unlawfully detained and brutalized by operatives of the Nigeria police during its contractual disagreement with the Ogun State Government.
According to the firm, the alleged maltreatment triggered the move to seek the seizure of Nigerian assets overseas.
Stakeholders knock Nigerian government
Some stakeholders, who spoke to Newspot on the matter, blamed the seizure of the presidential jets on FG’s negligence.
According to them, the development uncovered the government’s incompetence and lack of regard for due process.
It’s embarrassing, China may takeover Nigerian assets if borrowing continues – Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe
Paul Ibe, the spokesperson to the former Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has described the move by the Chinese firm as an embarrassment to the country.
Reacting to reports that one of the seized jets was recently purchased by the government, Iben told Newspot that the Nigerian government officials only care about themselves.
He lamented how the FG ‘secretly’ procured a presidential jet despite the hardship bedeviling the citizens.
He said, “It is an embarrassment to Nigeria as a country. It is even more embarrassing knowing one of the jets in the fleet was recently bought without going through the National Assembly.
“I’m not sure there is any provision for such in the 2024 budget. The government has the mind to purchase an aircraft in a season when Nigerians are struggling to feed themselves.
“This is a clear indication that they don’t care about governance, if they are, they would have heeded the voice of Nigerians.
“Nigerians have repeatedly cried out that they are hungry but all the government does is to keep living large.
“Look at the huge amount of money they claimed to have spent on the Vice President’s residence. About N160 million for SUVs. The lawmakers are earning N21 million as salaries and allowances.
“You heard the comment made by the Senate President before the recent protest where he said that Nigerians can go ahead with their protest while they are eating.
“People are protesting against hunger and you are telling them that you will be eating while they protest.
“The only thing that matters to them is to take care of themselves and they are actually doing that; unfortunately, they are doing it on loans. Generations for now will have to pay for their living large”.
Atiku’s aide also expressed worries over the continuous borrowing by the FG, stating that the Chinese government may one day clamp down on Nigerian assets.
“We should also keep in mind that the firm that seized these presidential jets is a Chinese company. We just hope that this is not a precaution to what will likely happen next.
“One day, China May become tired of our loans and go against our assets. It is very possible”, he said.
It’s a monumental disgrace, CP responsible for the torture of Chinese officials should be arrested – HURIWA
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, on its part said the seizure of the presidential assets was a “monumental disgrace and a show of shame displayed by the Federal government”.
HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko told Newspot that the development was due to negligence on the part of the Nigerian government.
According to him, “every attempt by the present government to shift blame to its predecessors will not hold water because government is a continuous thing.
“Right from the top to the last person, the Nigerian government has demonstrated incompetence and negligence.
“The government failed to professionally handle this matter, leading to this international disgrace.
“If it were a civilized society where the government is serious, some persons would have either resigned or been fired. But in Nigeria, nothing is going to happen, nobody is going to resign and nobody will be fired.
“If this kind of carelessness and negligence continues, Nigeria will lose more exotic assets. Where was the ministry of justice when the Ogun State government entered this agreement? How can you enter into an agreement and still fail to continue?”
Reacting to the allegation that officials of the Chinese company were tortured by operatives of the Nigeria Police, Onwubiko called for investigation, stating that the commissioner of Police in charge of Ogun State command when the incident happened should be arrested.
He said, “Why would the Nigeria Police torture the Chinese workers as alleged by the firm? Something is actually wrong with our system.
“Nigeria does not take its international human rights obligations very seriously. The chapter four of the Nigerian constitution absolutely prohibits torture.
“No security agent has the right to inflict torture on anybody. So why did the Nigeria Police torture the Chinese officials?
“And who was the Commissioner of Police in that state at that time? The person should be arrested and prosecuted”.
Seizure of presidential jets will undermine investor confidence – Arewa Youths
On its part, the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, AYCF, expressed fear that the development may affect foreign investment in the country.
AYCF National President, Yerima Shettima told Newspot that the seizure of the Nigerian assets “is an example of the complexities inherent in international business agreements and the repercussions that arise from disputes between governments and corporations.
“This situation, rooted in a long-standing dispute involving a 2007 contract between China’s Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment and Nigeria’s Ogun State for the development of a free-trade zone, encapsulates not only legal and economic considerations but also profound implications for national pride and international diplomacy.
“At the heart of the matter is the contract which aimed to transform a portion of Nigeria into an industrial hub, intending to attract significant foreign investment.
“However, the failure to fulfill obligations set forth in the agreement has resulted in a legal battle that now threatens Nigeria’s national assets.
“The seizure of the jets, therefore, is not merely an economic setback; it is emblematic of a broader crisis of governance and accountability faced by the Nigerian state.
“This incident raises critical questions about the efficacy of Nigeria’s legal institutions, its ability to negotiate and uphold international agreements, and its commitment to protecting national assets from the clutches of foreign interventions.
“I join those who see the seizure as a national embarrassment, reflecting poorly on Nigeria’s standing in the international arena.
“Such perceptions can undermine investor confidence and portray a narrative of instability and unpredictability within the Nigerian business environment.
“The optics of a foreign court intervening in Nigeria’s sovereign affairs not only prompts scrutiny from international observers but also fuels internal discontent, as citizens grapple with the implications of a government perceived to be ineffectively handling international partnerships.
“The implications of this dispute extend beyond national embarrassment; they also signal a potential shift in how nations approach foreign investment and international business collaborations.
“While the situation may evoke feelings of dismay, it also serves as an opportunity for introspection and reform within Nigeria.
“This incident underscores the importance of establishing robust legal frameworks and institutions capable of addressing disputes effectively and efficiently.
“By taking proactive steps to strengthen its legal infrastructure and enhance its capacity for international negotiations, Nigeria can mitigate the risks of such embarrassing occurrences in the future”.
Seizure of presidential jets is part PDP’s failure, don’t blame it on Tinubu’s govt – APC chieftain
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Terzulum Samuel, however, blamed the seizure of the Nigerian assets on incompetence of the previous governments led by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He faulted Nigerians attacking President Tinubu over the incident, insisting that although the present administration will resolve the matter, it was not part of the agreement.
He said, “People blame Tinubu for almost everything. I am very sure that Mr President was not even aware of the agreement signed by the Ogun State government.
“They are not blaming the PDP governments that put us in this mess. All these things happened before APC took over power in 2015 and somebody who is looking for any opportunity to strike, is venting anger on the present government that is just one year old.
“Whatever it is, I am very sure that the current administration will fix it. It is not his fault but he has to step in.
“Criticism in Nigeria is always destructive and not constructive. We should stop insulting Tinubu. Let’s trust God and have faith that Mr President will fix the mess”.
Meanwhile, according to a company spokesperson on Friday, one of the jets was released after they were made aware that President Tinubu would be needing it for a scheduled meeting with France’s president, Emmanuel Macron.
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