A Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Ltd, has successfully seized another Nigerian asset in Canada. This time, it’s a luxury jet worth $57 million.
The seizure comes hot on the heels of the company’s recent confiscation of Nigeria’s guest houses in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Zhongshan Fucheng is seeking to recover up to $70 million in arbitration awards from the West African country.
According to Peoples Gazette, the firm obtained a change of custodian paperwork for the Bombardier 6000 type BD-700-1A10 aircraft from Canadian authorities in Montreal. This follows a Canadian court judgment that granted Zhongshang the authority to seize the jet from Nigeria.
A source familiar with the matter told Peoples Gazette, “The court granted orders for Zhongshang to seize the plane earlier this year, but the change of custody from Nigeria to Zhongshang was only recently concluded. Zhongshang will not stop seizing Nigeria’s assets
worldwide until the last cent of the arbitration awards has been paid.”
The Bombardier jet, with tail number M-MYNA and serial number 9471, was initially seized from its previous owner, fugitive Dan Etete, in 2016. It was later flown to Canada in 2020. Nigeria had attempted to retain ownership of the aircraft but failed to convince the court.
Judge David Collier of the Superior Court of Quebec ruled in favor of Zhongshang, dismissing Nigeria’s arguments. This latest seizure marks another significant victory for the Chinese firm in its pursuit of the arbitration awards.
With the addition of the Bombardier jet, Zhongshan Fucheng has now successfully confiscated Nigeria’s assets in the UK, France, and Canada. The company is reportedly eyeing further seizures in Belgium and the United States.
