By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
THE NIGERIAN government has condemned the recent attempts by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese firm, to seize offshore assets belonging to the country.
These attempts were made through questionable legal tactics, including obtaining ex-parte orders from the Judicial Court of Paris, without proper notice to the Nigerian authorities.
In a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy on August 15, 2024, the Nigerian Presidency emphasized that the Federal Government has no contractual obligations with Zhongshan.
The ongoing legal dispute is between the company and the Ogun State government, stemming from a 2007 contract related to the management of a free-trade zone in the state.
The contract was revoked in 2015 after the company only managed to erect a perimeter fence on the designated land.
The Federal Government expressed full awareness of the Ogun State Government’s efforts to resolve the matter amicably.
However, Zhongshan has resorted to unorthodox methods, reminiscent of the P&ID case, where foreign entities attempted to defraud Nigeria under the guise of investment.
Despite the revocation of the contract and the subsequent arbitration that awarded over $60 million against the Nigerian Government, Ogun State has successfully resisted the enforcement of this judgment in multiple jurisdictions, including the UK and the US.
The state government continues to engage Zhongshan in settlement discussions, although the company’s stance has been inconsistent.
Zhongshan’s recent legal actions in France, which included the provisional attachment of three Nigerian government-owned aircraft undergoing maintenance, have been met with strong opposition from both the Nigerian and Ogun State Governments.
These aircraft, used solely for sovereign purposes, are protected by international and French laws from such attachments.
The Nigerian Government has vowed to take swift legal action to overturn these baseless orders and protect the country’s assets from what it describes as “predators and shylocks masquerading as investors.”
The government also reassured Nigerians that it is working closely with Ogun State to ensure that these orders are lifted promptly.
Ogun Govt Expressed Embrassment
Hon. Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the Ogun State Governor, expressed regret over the embarrassment caused by these developments.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the integrity of Nigeria and its assets, emphasizing that any attempts to blackmail or extort the country would be firmly resisted.
The Ogun State Government remains open to a reasonable settlement, having recently reached out to Zhongshan with a proposal.
However, the company responded only after securing the controversial court orders in France.
Both the Federal and Ogun state governments are determined to resolve this protracted dispute through legal channels, while also safeguarding the nation’s assets.
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