A Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, has been accused by the Federal Government of Nigeria for subterfuge after a French court ruled in favour of the firm and granted the seizure of presidential jets belonging to the Nigerian government.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated on Wednesday that the firm is pursuing a fraudulent claim against the Nigerian state, similar to the PI&D case in the UK.
Ogun State Government
According to Onanuga, the case was against Zhongshan Fucheng Ltd. and the Ogun State government regarding a 2007 contract between the company and the State Government to manage a free-trade zone.
Furthermore, he said the dispute which has been resolved through Nigeria’s judicial system is now been wrongly tried in Paris, with Zhongshan engaging in “unorthodox” means to strip Nigeria of its assets overseas through subterfuge.
However, Zhongshan obtained two orders from the Judicial Court of Paris dated March 7, 2024, and August 12, 2024, without any notice being duly served on the Federal Government of Nigeria and Ogun State Government.
Chinese Company Failed Attempts?
The statement read: “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.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government is not under any contractual obligation with the company.
In addition, the case in which Zhongshan is trying to use every unorthodox means to strip our offshore assets is between the company and the Ogun State Government.
Furthermore, 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.
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“While the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is working with the Ogun State Government on an amicable resolution, Zhongshan obtained two orders from the Judicial Court of Paris dated March 7, 2024, and August 12, 2024, without any notice being duly served on the Federal Government of Nigeria and Ogun State.”
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