PRESIDENTIAL JETS’ SEIZURES: CISLAC SOUNDS ALARM ON LEGAL RISKS IN STATE DEALS

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) has urged state governors to exercise greater caution over contract negotiations to avoid the repeat of the seizure of three Nigerian presidential jets by a French court.

The news of the seizure of the Nigerian Presidential jet last week came with shockwaves through the nation, arising from a contentious contract dispute between the Ogun State Government and the Chinese firm Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd.

A statement by Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of CISLAC/TI-Nigeria, on Monday, 19th 2024, expresses deep concern over the legal failure that originated from a 2007 agreement to develop the Ogun Free Trade Zone.

He noted that the mismanagement of this contract has not only inflicted severe financial losses but also dealt a blow to Nigeria’s international standing.

“State governors and public officials must grasp the legal and ethical intricacies of international agreements before committing to them.”

Auwal added that Nigeria is already besieged by socio-economic challenges and, hence, should be the least likely to be ensnared in costly legal battles that could have been averted with due diligence and reiterated his critics of the federal government’s weaknesses in permitting state governors to take out loans without fully considering the risks involved.

Rafsanjani added that what is playing out is personal interests that often lead officials into precarious agreements, a scandal that left Nigeria on the hook for billions of dollars.

“CISLAC/TI-Nigeria’s warning serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and ethical governance in international contracts to avoid catastrophic outcomes.”

Reflecting on the long-standing efforts of CISLAC and Transparency International in promoting global transparency and accountability, particularly in the wake of the P&ID arbitration order in 2017, Rafsanjani said the case, which began with a $6.6 billion fine against Nigeria, eventually ballooned to $11 billion due to accrued interest—a stark illustration of the dangers of contractual negligence.He noted that during the drawn-out legal struggle in London to overturn this massive fine, CISLAC and Transparency International worked alongside local and international partners to push for a thorough investigation into those responsible for undermining Nigeria’s interests.

Rafsanjani further describes the previous administration’s inaction on these calls for accountability as “profoundly disappointing.

”CISLAC, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu and anti-corruption agencies to prosecute all those involved in the P&ID scandal, including former high-ranking officials who colluded for personal gain.

While reminding Nigeria of the dire consequences of neglecting due diligence in handling international agreements, said, “Vigilance and ethical governance are crucial in contract negotiations to safeguard Nigeria’s future.”

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