Chinese Firm Zhongshang Fucheng Seizes Nigerian Jet in Canada Amid Global Asset Confiscations

Zhongshang Fucheng Industrial Investment Ltd, a Chinese firm entangled in a controversial legal battle with Nigeria, has seized yet another Nigerian aircraft in Canada.

This move follows the recent confiscation of three Nigerian presidential aircraft in France, stemming from a dispute with the Ogun State Government.

In a surprising gesture, the company released one of the three seized aircraft just ahead of a scheduled meeting between President Bola Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Tinubu subsequently traveled to France aboard the released Airbus A330 business jet, despite ongoing controversies surrounding its acquisition.

The latest development in this saga involves the seizure of a Bombardier 6000 jet in Canada. The Canadian authorities in Montreal recently transferred custodianship of the aircraft to Zhongshang Fucheng, following a Quebec court ruling that authorized the firm’s actions. The jet, which was originally purchased for $57 million by fugitive Dan Etete, was part of a spending spree tied to the notorious OPL 245 oil field deal.

Zhongshang Fucheng continues to enforce its arbitration awards, now totaling over $70 million, by confiscating various Nigerian assets abroad. These include properties in Liverpool, a Dassault Falcon 7X in Paris, a Boeing 737, and the Airbus A330, which collectively are valued at over $100 million.