Federal government has said that it is aware of failed attempts by a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, to take over its offshore assets through subterfuge.
Gatekeepers News reports that FG said this through a statement released by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Thursday.
This comes after a Chinese company, Zhongshan, had successfully petitioned for seizure of three Nigerian presidential jets.
According to the statement; Federal Government is not under any contractual obligation with the company.
FG noted that the case in which Zhongshan tries to use every unorthodox means to strip the country’s offshore assets is between the company and Ogun State Government.
Before this, a French court had authorized seizure of three presidential jets due to the ongoing dispute between Zhongshan, and the Ogun State government.
The court’s order comes as a result of the government’s failure to honour a $74.5 million award granted to Zhongshan by an independent arbitral tribunal, chaired by former President of UK Supreme Court.
However, the proposed seized jets are part of Nigeria’s presidential air fleet.
Federal Government noted that it is fully aware of efforts being made by Ogun State Government to reach an amicable resolution on the matter.
The statement goes,”This arm-twisting tactic by the Chinese company is the latest in a long list of failed moves to attach Nigerian government-owned assets in foreign jurisdictions.”
“The material facts in the transaction between the Ogun State Government and Zhongshan point to another P&ID case in which unscrupulous and questionable individuals falsely present themselves as investors with the sole objective of undercutting and scamming governments in Africa.”
“Undoubtedly, Zhongshan withheld vital information and misled the Judicial Court in Paris into attaching the Nigerian government’s presidential jets, which are on routine maintenance in France. The use and nature of the presidential jets as assets of a Sovereign entity whose assets are protected by diplomatic immunity forbid any foreign Court from issuing an order against them.”
“We are convinced the Chinese company misled the Judicial Court of Paris regarding the use and nature of the assets it seeks to attach and did not fully disclose to the court as required by law.”
“This same Chinese company had tried to enforce its questionable judgment in the UK and USA but failed.”
“Like the P&ID case, foreign companies are trying to defraud Nigeria with the collaboration of some bureaucrats. Zhongshan appeared to have sold the judgment they got to a venture capitalist seeking to make money by embarrassing the Federal Government and President Bola Tinubu.”
“We want to assure Nigerians that the Federal Government is working with the Ogun State Government to discharge this frivolous order in Paris immediately.”
