Amosun Roped FG Into $60 Million Mess When He Used Police, Immigration To Harass, Deport Chinese Investors, Nigeria’s Lawyers Admit In U.S. Court

Nigeria Admits Culpability in $60 Million Dispute Involving Chinese Investors, Amosun’s Actions Tied to Tinubu Government. In a significant legal admission, Nigeria’s attorneys have acknowledged the country’s involvement in a contentious $60 million dispute, which originated from the harassment and deportation of Chinese investors in Ogun State. The lawyers’ admission contradicts recent public statements made by both the Tinubu administration and former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who had denied any wrongdoing in the matter. The dispute centers around the Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone, a multibillion-naira project in Igbesa, Ogun State, managed by Chinese firm Zhongshan. Court documents reveal that the Nigerian police and immigration officials, acting under federal directives, harassed and expelled Chinese expatriates attempting to reclaim control of the zone.

These actions were carried out at the behest of Amosun, who, during his tenure as governor, arbitrarily ousted the investors from the facility.

The revelations emerged as Nigeria battles to prevent asset seizures in the United States, following a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The court upheld a previous judgment that found Nigeria and Ogun State liable for breach of contract and abuses against the Chinese investors, awarding them $60 million in compensation.

The legal battle has plunged Nigeria into a diplomatic quagmire, with the Chinese investors reportedly detaining Nigerian aircraft in France as part of their enforcement strategy. Despite denials from Amosun and the federal government, evidence presented in court—including text messages—suggests that Nigerian officials threatened Zhongshan’s executives, further complicating the case. Nigeria’s legal team, led by Squire Patton Boggs LLP, argued that the involvement of Ogun State in the contract disputes should not strip the country of its sovereign immunity under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. However, the U.S. appellate court ruled that the New York Convention, governing international trade and arbitration, applied to the case, thus allowing the Chinese investors to continue their legal pursuit of Nigeria’s assets. The case has sparked confusion and concern within Nigeria, with reports indicating that the Tinubu administration may consider further legal action, potentially appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the dispute continues to cast a shadow over Nigeria’s international relations, particularly with China, a key economic partner.

Amosun, who admitted to transferring the free trade zone to a subsidiary of Zhongshan in 2012, has maintained his innocence and urged the Tinubu government to resist the Chinese investors’ demands. Both Amosun and presidential representatives have so far declined to comment on the recent legal developments and the implications for Nigeria’s sovereignty and international standing.

Source: ejesgist