As news of Nigeria’s presidential airplane seized by a Chinese company in Canada is now fizzling out, another piece of news has emerged of a luxury jet used by Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro seized by US officials, making rounds in the media sphere.
According to reports, the US government has seized a Gulfstream jet that was previously used by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The jet, valued at over $20 million, was allegedly purchased through an illegal scheme involving corruption and money laundering.
The seizure is part of the ongoing efforts by the US to target the Maduro regime and its associates, who have been accused of widespread corruption and human rights abuses. The jet was reportedly purchased using funds that were diverted from the Venezuelan state-owned oil company, PDVSA.
The US Department of Justice has stated that the seizure of the jet is a significant blow to the Maduro regime, as it deprives them of a valuable asset that was used for personal and official purposes. The jet was reportedly used by Maduro and his allies to travel both within Venezuela and internationally.
The seizure of the jet is the latest in a series of actions taken by the US government against the Maduro regime. The US has imposed numerous sanctions on Venezuelan officials and entities, and has also recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the legitimate president of Venezuela.
The news of the jet seizure has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising the US government’s efforts to hold the Maduro regime accountable, while others have criticized the move as a political maneuver. Regardless, the seizure of the luxury jet is a significant development in the ongoing crisis in Venezuela.
In an almost similar situation, a Chinese company had attempted to seize aircraft belonging to the Nigerian government over a long-standing dispute.
A French court has authorized a Chinese investment firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd., to seize three Nigerian presidential aircraft. This is part of an effort by the Chinese firm to enforce an international arbitral award granted to it in 2021.
The dispute dates back to 2016 when Zhongshan acquired rights to develop land in Nigeria’s Ogun Guangdong free trade zone, but was later expropriated without compensation following a dispute with the state government. The case went to international arbitration in 2018, and in 2021 the London tribunal ruled in Zhongshan’s favor, awarding the company $55.6 million in compensation, plus additional damages and costs.
Zhongshan has since initiated legal proceedings in various jurisdictions, including the UK, US, Canada, Belgium, France, and the British Virgin Islands, to enforce the arbitration award against Nigeria. The French court has now authorized Zhongshan to seize three Nigerian presidential aircraft – a Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737-700, and an Airbus A330 – as security for its claim.
The Nigerian government has fiercely condemned the seizure of its planes, suggesting that Zhongshan had the sole objective of “undercutting and scamming” an African government. Nigeria has accused the Chinese firm of misrepresenting facts to courts in various jurisdictions.
After pressure from the Nigerian government, the Chinese company relented in the attempt to seize the airplanes already seized by the French government.
In a press statement, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd said it had lifted the seizure of the Nigerian presidential Airbus A330 to show it has “consistently sought to act reasonably and fairly in the course of a legal dispute” that was not of its making.
