French Court Seizes Three Nigerian Presidential Jets

A French court has ordered the seizure of three Nigerian presidential jets due to a legal dispute involving Zhongshan, a Chinese company. The jets, which include a Dassault Falcon 7X and a Boeing 737, are currently undergoing maintenance and were recently put up for sale. The seizure stems from a 2016 contract revocation by the Ogun State government related to Zhongshan's management of an export processing zone, which led to an arbitration award of $74.5 million in favor of Zhongshan that the state has yet to pay. The Nigerian government, having invested over $100 million in the Airbus 330, faces repercussions from this local government action. The court's order prohibits any movement or sale of the jets until the financial dispute is resolved, mirroring a recent seizure of Nigerian-owned properties in Liverpool related to the same case. The Nigerian government has not yet commented on these developments.