A Chinese firm, Zhongshang Fucheng Industrial Investment Ltd, has seized another Nigerian aircraft in Canada, marking the latest in a series of asset confiscations by the company.
This move comes after a Quebec court granted the firm permission to seize the Bombardier 6000 jet, valued at $57 million, over a dispute related to a $70 million arbitration award.
The seizure is part of a larger controversy involving the Chinese firm’s pursuit of Nigerian assets worldwide, including the recent confiscation of three presidential aircraft in France and properties in Liverpool. The company’s actions have sparked concerns about the Nigerian government’s handling of contracts and agreements with foreign entities.
The Bombardier 6000 jet was acquired in 2010 by Dan Etete, a fugitive, as part of a spending spree following his receipt of over $350 million from the corrupt sale of the OPL 245 oil field. The seizure has raised questions about the legitimacy of the transaction and the involvement of Nigerian officials.
This latest development highlights the ongoing dispute between Nigeria and Zhongshang Fucheng, with the Chinese firm seeking to enforce its arbitration awards against the Nigerian government.