Chinese Firm Seizes Another Nigerian Jet in Canada Amid Ongoing Disputes

A Chinese company, Zhongshang Fucheng Industrial Investment Ltd, has seized yet another Nigerian jet, this time in Canada, escalating a series of international asset seizures involving Nigeria. This latest move follows the company’s earlier confiscation of three Nigerian aircraft in France and other assets in various countries.

The controversy surrounding these seizures centers on a dispute between Zhongshang Fucheng and the Ogun State Government. The Chinese firm had previously seized three presidential aircraft in France as part of this ongoing conflict.

However, in a gesture of goodwill, the company released one of the planes ahead of a scheduled meeting between Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron. Tinubu subsequently traveled to France on the released Airbus A330 business jet, a move that has generated further debate regarding the purchase of the jet.

Despite this release, the conflict continues to intensify. Recently, Zhongshang Fucheng secured a legal victory in Canada, where authorities in Montreal transferred custodianship of a Bombardier 6000 jet, valued at approximately $57 million, to the Chinese firm. This decision followed a ruling by Judge David Collier of the Superior Court of Quebec on March 21, 2024, which dismissed Nigeria’s efforts to retain ownership of the jet.

The Bombardier 6000 was originally acquired by Dan Etete, a fugitive linked to the controversial sale of the OPL 245 oil field in 2010. Etete reportedly spent over $350 million from the sale on various assets, including this jet.

The recent seizure of the Bombardier 6000 adds to the growing list of Nigerian assets confiscated by Zhongshang Fucheng, which includes two properties in Liverpool, a Dassault Falcon 7X in Paris, a Boeing 737, and the aforementioned Airbus A330.

Zhongshang Fucheng’s actions are part of its efforts to enforce arbitration awards totaling more than $70 million against Nigeria. The company has been relentless in pursuing Nigerian assets abroad to recover these funds.

The ongoing dispute has raised concerns about Nigeria’s ability to protect its assets on the international stage and has placed additional pressure on the Nigerian government to resolve the conflict.