The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has responded to the seizure of three presidential jets in Paris, France.... CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant, Media, on Thursday, August 15 in Abuja, Fagbemi stated that the seized jets are sovereign assets used solely for sovereign purposes and are therefore immune from attachment by any entity.
The jets were seized by a French Court while undergoing routine maintenance in France due to an alleged debt owed by the Nigerian government.
“The actions by France it would be recalled was on account of alleged debt owed by the Nigerian government.
“The office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice are currently weighing both diplomatic and legal means.
“They have set in motion both legal and diplomatic steps to ensure the discharge of the inappropriate orders against the aircrafts, which are covered by sovereign immunity.
“While further actions are being put in place to resolve the entire dispute through available legal means, the firm position of the federal government remains that the aircrafts in question are sovereign assets used solely for sovereign purposes and are therefore immune from attachment as Zhongshan has sought to do,’’ he said.
Recall that Zhongshan Industrial Investment Company Limited, a Chinese company, sought to enforce a Final Award granted in its favor on 26 March 2024 against the Ogun State government after winning an arbitration case against the sub-national.
Zhongshan Industrial Investment Company stated that although the dispute originated from engagements with the Ogun State government, the enforcement actions were being directed against the Federal Government and its assets.
It claimed that this was in line with existing principles of international law, which hold that the actions of a substantial or local entity are attributable to the state or country itself.
