Drama As Chinese Company Seizes Another Nigerian Jet In Canada

Zhongshang Fucheng Industrial Investment Ltd, a Chinese company involved in the controversial seizure of three Nigerian aircraft in France and other assets globally, has now seized another Nigerian jet in Canada.

This comes after a French court ordered the seizure of three presidential aircraft in favor of Zhongshang Fucheng due to a dispute with the Ogun State Government.

The company later announced the release of one of the three aircraft as a goodwill gesture, coinciding with a scheduled meeting between President Bola Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron. Tinubu traveled to France on the released Airbus A330 business jet amidst ongoing controversies surrounding its acquisition.

Recently, the Chinese firm secured legal custody of a Bombardier 6000 aircraft from Canadian authorities in Montreal, following a Quebec court ruling that allowed Zhongshang to seize the jet from Nigeria.

In its efforts to enforce arbitration awards exceeding $70 million against Nigeria, Zhongshang has confiscated several Nigerian assets abroad, including two properties in Liverpool, a Dassault Falcon 7X in Paris, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus A330 valued at over $100 million. The Bombardier 6000 in Canada is the latest addition to these seizures.

On March 21, 2024, Judge David Collier of the Superior Court of Quebec dismissed Nigeria’s attempt to retain ownership of the Bombardier 6000 jet, which records show was purchased for $57 million by Dan Etete, a fugitive, as part of a massive spending spree following his receipt of over $350 million from the corrupt sale of the OPL 245 oil field in 2010.