The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has affirmed that aircraft within the presidential fleet are sovereign assets used exclusively for governmental purposes and are therefore immune from any form of attachment.
This declaration follows the recent seizure of three presidential aircraft undergoing routine maintenance in France. The aircraft were detained under ex parte orders issued by the Judicial Court of Paris.
Fagbemi emphasized that the federal government is pursuing both diplomatic and legal avenues to resolve the matter. He noted that the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Attorney General's office are collaborating to challenge the orders against the aircraft, which are protected under sovereign immunity.
“The federal government’s firm stance is that these aircraft, being sovereign assets used solely for state functions, are immune from any attachment as sought by Zhongshan Industrial Investment Company Limited,” Fagbemi stated.
The seizure of the aircraft is linked to an alleged debt owed by the Nigerian government, with Zhongshan Industrial Investment Company Limited, a Chinese firm, seeking to enforce an arbitral award against the Ogun State government.
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