Governor Abiodun of Ogun State has initiated a manhunt for the kidnappers of passengers while also praising the Ogun pilgrims for their successful pilgrimage to Hajj.
In a separate matter, the Ogun State government has voiced its strong opposition to the seizure of three Nigerian government-owned aircraft by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co Ltd, a company based in China. This announcement was made via the Ogun State Government’s official X account on Thursday, August 15, 2024.
The aircraft were provisionally attached in France following two rulings by the Judicial Court of Paris dated March 7 and August 12, 2024. Ogun State has asserted that this seizure occurred without appropriate notification to the Nigerian Federal Government, the state itself, or their legal representatives.
The state emphasized that these aircraft are meant for sovereign purposes and should be protected from such actions under both international and French law.
Ogun State accused Zhongshan of intentionally withholding vital information from Nigerian officials and misleading the Paris court about the ownership and intended use of the aircraft.
In response, Ogun State, in conjunction with the Federal Government, is taking swift action to challenge these provisional attachments and is seeking their immediate reversal.
This incident draws parallels with the P&ID case, raising alarm over ongoing fraudulent activities by entities pretending to be investors with the aim of defrauding Nigerian states.
The dispute dates back to a 2007 agreement between Ogun State and Zhongshan regarding the management of a free-trade zone. A conflict emerged in 2015, leading to arbitration in 2016.
By the time the current administration took charge in 2019, the arbitration panel had already reached a conclusion, resulting in a $60 million award against the Federal Government—a verdict Ogun State believes is unjust given Zhongshan’s minimal contributions.
Guided by legal advice, the current administration has opted to contest the enforcement of this arbitration award, successfully doing so in eight jurisdictions, with appeals still pending in the US and UK.
Initial settlement discussions appeared hopeful but collapsed when Zhongshan rejected Ogun State’s fair offer and insisted on full payment. The mediation process has since broken down, with additional negotiations set for the first quarter of this year.
Zhongshan has avoided further discussions on a settlement and is pursuing enforcement actions, which Ogun State and the Federal Government’s legal teams have effectively contested, including successfully overturning ex-parte orders in similar cases.
