Zhongshang Fucheng Industrial Investment Ltd, a Chinese company, has successfully repossessed a luxury jet owned by Nigeria, following a Canadian court ruling. The Bombardier 6000 type BD-700-1A10 aircraft was seized in Montreal after a judgment from the Superior Court of Quebec authorized the action.
The court’s decision, delivered by Judge David Collier on March 21, 2024, rejected Nigeria’s attempts to retain ownership of the jet. Zhongshang’s move comes as part of its efforts to enforce arbitration awards totaling over $70 million against Nigeria.
The aircraft, originally purchased for $57 million by fugitive Dan Etete, was part of a spending spree following the sale of the OPL 245 oil field in 2010. Nigeria first seized the jet from Etete in 2016 and initially stored it in Dubai.
However, it was flown to Canada on May 29, 2020, where Nigeria secured a court order to hold it at Montreal’s main airport.
Despite a claim by Canadian firm Tibit for ownership of the aircraft, Canadian courts previously allowed Nigeria to maintain control. However, Zhongshang’s legal team pursued the seizure of the jet as part of their arbitration claims.
Judge Collier criticized Nigeria’s defense, dismissing arguments that the country could not respond to the lawsuit due to the February-March 2023 general elections.
He also rejected Nigeria’s claim of sovereign immunity, aligning with prior decisions by arbitration panels and courts in the United Kingdom.
This latest development marks another chapter in the ongoing legal struggle over the aircraft and highlights the complex international legal landscape surrounding asset seizures.