
The management of Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Company Limited, a Chinese firm, has accused the Nigerian police of unlawfully detaining and brutalizing its senior officials during a contractual dispute with the Ogun State Government.
This alleged mistreatment has escalated to the extent that the company sought legal action resulting in the seizure of Nigerian assets abroad.
Recently, news surfaced that a French court had ordered the seizure of three of Nigeria’s presidential jets. The aircraft involved include a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus 330, the latter of which was still awaiting delivery to Nigeria.
These seizures followed ex parte orders issued by a Paris judicial court on March 7 and August 12, 2024. The court’s actions were a direct result of a legal battle initiated by Zhongshan against both the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Ogun State Government. The dispute arose after the Ogun State Government terminated a contractual agreement with Zhongshan.
An arbitral tribunal later awarded Zhongshan approximately $74.5 million in compensation, but the state government allegedly failed to comply with the ruling.
Faced with this situation, Zhongshan pursued further legal recourse in France, leading to the seizure of Nigeria’s presidential jets. The affected aircraft include a Dassault Falcon 7X at Le Bourget Airport in Paris, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus 330 at Basel-Mulhouse Airport in Switzerland. Reports indicate that the Nigerian government had invested over $100 million in the Airbus alone.
Zhongshan rejected all settlement offers from the Ogun State Government, citing the alleged mistreatment of its officials as a key reason. The company detailed in its submission to the French court that its management team in Nigeria had been physically assaulted and threatened.
Zhongshan claimed that the Ogun State Government had employed the police to carry out these actions after revoking the firm’s export processing zone management contract.
Among those affected was Mr. Wenxiao Zhao, the Chief Financial Officer of Zhongshan’s subsidiary, Zhongfu Nigeria Ltd. Zhao was reportedly subjected to verbal and physical abuse by the police, who were acting under the state government’s orders.
Zhongshan, through its solicitors Withers LLP and Radix Legal & Consulting Limited, claimed it had suffered losses amounting to $1.078 billion due to the contract’s termination.
The company also alleged that the then Secretary to the Ogun State Government had directly threatened Zhongfu Nigeria’s CEO, Dr. Jianxin Han, warning him to leave peacefully or face forceful removal, complications, and possible prosecution.
The police allegedly arrested Mr. Zhao, detained him without providing any reason, and subjected him to physical abuse before releasing him after a week, during which he was held in two different jails.
This series of events highlights the severe tensions between Zhongshan and the Ogun State Government, with significant international ramifications, including the unprecedented seizure of Nigerian state assets abroad.
The company stated, “The draconian actions of the Nigerian authorities included the (then) Secretary to the Ogun State Government vdirectly threatening Zhongfu Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jianxin Han, to leave peacefully when there is an opportunity to do so, and avoid forceful removal, complications, and possible prosecution.
“As if this treatment were not appalling enough, the Nigerian authorities followed through on their threats of physical harm to the claimant’s management team in Nigeria. The police arrested the Chief Financial Officer of Zhongfu Nigeria, Mr Wenxiao Zhao, detained him without basis or explanation in terrible conditions, and physically beat him on two occasions before releasing him—without any charge—after a week in two jails.”
Recounting his ordeal in police custody, Zhao said, “One police officer in uniform came over to me and slapped me twice on the face. Then the police officers who brought me there took me to a room where they asked me to sign a piece of paper.
“They did not say or explain what this paper was or what it said. I refused to sign the piece of paper. The police officers then took my flip-flops and placed me in a courtyard with a number of cells surrounding it. It was dark and cold, and I was standing at the gate to one of the cells.
“Another prisoner came out of that cell and asked why I was taken. I did not speak. There were also some other people who had been brought to the courtyard, and the prisoner told us to stand side by side and asked whether we had money and why we were there. If someone had no money, he would slap them.
“Then the prisoner took me aside and asked me to speak. He said that if I did not speak, he would beat me with a club. Later, a second prisoner took me aside and told me not to be afraid. However, the first prisoner came back and threatened me with a club and asked me to speak, which I did not do.
“On what I think was the third day in the Abuja police station, a lot of people were brought into the office. The police officers moved me to another office. The police officer then approached me asking what happened. I did not respond, and he hit me twice, first on the neck and the second time on the head with a fist. It was painful, and I felt numb.
“Fearing for their safety, Zhongfu Nigeria’s management team was forced to leave Nigeria. Zhongfu Nigeria tried to take preventive legal steps in the Nigerian courts to preserve their rights, but the Ogun State Government, NEPZA, and the police orchestrated the complete evisceration of the claimant’s investment in Nigeria.”
When contacted for comment, the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, stated that the current administration was unaware of the Chinese firm’s allegations, as the incident occurred over three years before Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration.
Akinmade remarked, “We don’t know what happened at that time. However, we are committed to ensuring that our people are not defrauded through fraudulent judgments.”
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, denied any police involvement in the matter, stating, “It is not a police issue; we are not involved.”
(PUNCH)
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