By Emmanuel Kwada
A Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Company Limited, has accused the Ogun State Government and police of unlawfully detaining and brutalizing its top officials during a contractual dispute.
The firm claims this mistreatment led to the seizure of Nigerian assets overseas, including three presidential jets.
The jets, a Dassault Falcon 7X, Boeing 737, and Airbus 330, were seized by a French court following a contractual disagreement between Zhongshan and the Ogun State Government.
Chief Financial Officer Wenxiao Zhao, suffered physical and verbal abuse by police.
The company alleges that the state government used police to assault and threaten its workers after revoking its export processing zone management contract.
Zhongshan claims to have lost $1.078 billion due to the contract termination and alleges that its personnel, including Chief Financial Officer Wenxiao Zhao, suffered physical and verbal abuse by police. Zhao recounted his ordeal, describing beatings and detention in poor conditions.
The Ogun State Government and police have denied involvement, with the government claiming the incident occurred before the current administration.
A former Nigerian ambassador, Yemi Farounbi, described the seizure as an avoidable diplomatic embarrassment, highlighting the need for careful examination of foreign contracts.
One of the seized jets has been released for President Bola Tinubu’s use during an upcoming meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, as a gesture of goodwill by Zhongshan.
Read Also: Disquiet in Aso Rock over seized presidential jets
