Chinese firm releases seized presidential jet on ‘compassionate’ ground

As the Nigerian government continue to face embarrassing situation on the seizure of three presidential jets and other offshore assets following Court ruling in Paris, France, Zhongshan, the Chinese firm involved in a legal dispute has release one of the presidential jets on compassionate ground.

The dispute had been between Ogun State in the South West Nigeria and Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Company Limited, a Chinese firm.

Following the Court order, the aircraft, an Airbus A330, was detained in France by Zhongshan.

The firm said, it released the presidential compassionately to enable President Bola Tinubu travel for an upcoming meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

“Zhongshan has consistently sought to act reasonably and fairly in the course of a legal dispute with Nigeria which was not of its making,” a spokesperson for the company reacted on Friday.

The spokesperson emphasised that the decision to release the jet was a gesture of goodwill to facilitate the President’s travel plans.

The release of the aircraft came amid ongoing negotiations between Zhongshan and the Federal Government to resolve the broader dispute.

“Zhongshan remains committed to talks with representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, this time serious and substantive on both sides, with a view to reaching a reasonable compromise settlement rapidly,” the spokesperson added.

Details of when the two other jets would be released were sketchy as at Friday.