Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd has announced the release of one of three Nigerian Airbus A330 aircraft detained in France, following a court order from a Paris judicial court. The decision was made as a gesture of goodwill, recognizing that Nigerian President Ahmed Bola Tinubu requires the aircraft for an upcoming meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
In a statement issued on Friday, the company explained that while it has acted fairly and reasonably in the ongoing legal dispute with Nigeria, it decided to lift the seizure on the aircraft to facilitate the President’s trip. “Zhongshan has been informed that an Airbus A330, detained in France due to a court order obtained by Zhongshan, is needed by the President of Nigeria for his meeting with President Macron next week. As a goodwill gesture, Zhongshan has allowed the aircraft to be used for the President’s trip,” the statement read.
The spokesperson also emphasized the company’s commitment to continued negotiations with the Nigerian government, expressing hope for a swift and reasonable resolution.
The release of the aircraft comes as the Nigerian Federal Government confirms it has initiated legal actions to address the interim seizure of all three presidential planes in France. The planes, detained during routine maintenance, were seized following ex parte orders from the Paris Judicial Court on March 7 and August 12, 2024. These orders were secured by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd, a Chinese firm enforcing an arbitral award from 2021 against Ogun State, a Nigerian sub-national entity.
