Presidency Condemns Zhongshan’s Dubious Legal Tactics to Seize Nigerian Assets Abroad
In a recent statement from the State House, the Federal Government of Nigeria strongly condemned the fraudulent attempts by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese company, to seize Nigeria's offshore assets through underhanded legal maneuvers. The Presidency affirmed that Nigeria has no contractual obligations with Zhongshan and that the case pertains solely to a dispute between the company and the Ogun State Government.
The origins of this dispute date back to a 2007 contract between Ogun State and Zhongshan to manage a free-trade zone, a contract that was revoked in 2015 after the company had done little more than erect a perimeter fence. Despite this minimal progress, Zhongshan has pursued aggressive legal actions in foreign jurisdictions, seeking to claim assets of the Nigerian government, including Presidential jets currently undergoing maintenance in France.
The Presidency highlighted that these jets, being sovereign assets, are protected by diplomatic immunity, and any attempt to attach them through foreign courts is not only illegal but a clear misrepresentation of facts to the Judicial Court in Paris. The Nigerian government, in collaboration with Ogun State, is actively working to discharge this baseless order and protect its national assets from what it describes as "predators and shylocks masquerading as investors."
Zhongshan’s tactics have been likened to those used in the notorious P&ID case, where unscrupulous individuals sought to defraud Nigeria under the guise of investment. Despite Zhongshan's attempts to enforce questionable judgments in the UK and USA, they have consistently failed, a testament to the resilience of Nigeria's legal defenses.
As this case unfolds, the Nigerian government remains committed to safeguarding its assets and upholding the nation's sovereignty against foreign entities exploiting legal loopholes to undermine its authority and extract undue financial gains. The Presidency assures Nigerians that no stone will be left unturned in this fight to protect the country's interests.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, emphasized that Nigeria would continue to resist any efforts to tarnish its reputation or seize its assets under false pretenses. The government's resolve to stand firm against such fraudulent claims signals its unwavering commitment to justice and the protection of national resources.
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