Sopuruchi Onwuka

Following a court injunction and immigration hammer, the Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy Plc, Mr Roger Brown, has delegated authority to the company’s Chief Operating Officer pending when all issues relating to his immigration status are resolved.

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Mr Brown who had been working from London office of the company had to temporarily cede his position in deference to a judicial injunction for him to stand aside as the Chief Executive Officer of the company following a string of allegations.

Chairman of the Company, Mr Basil Omiyi, however declared in a statement on Friday that Seplat’s board would resist moves by some workers of the company to discredit the CEO. He added that board had already passed vote of confidence on Mr. Brown.

The Oracle Today reports that the Ministry of Internal Affairs had in a letter earlier in the week “withdrawn the Work Permit CERPAC, Visa, Residence Permit and all relevant documents that authorized Mr. Roger Thomson Brown’s entry or stay in Nigeria.”

The withdrawal of immigration status of Mr Roger Brown is based on allegations that touch on violation of expatriate laws, racism and favoritism against Nigeria workers. The Ministry faulted Mr Brown’s Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) as unsupported by valid Expatriate Quota.

The March 3 revocation letter signed by on behalf of the Minister by the Director II in charge of Citizenship and Business, Mr Akinola Adesina, declared the “Withdrawal of Work Permit, CERPAC, Visa/Residence Permit of Mr. Roger Thompson Brown – CEO, SEPLAT Energy Plc.”

The letter also supports legal proceedings against Mr Brown in the same respect at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

The letter stated that Mr Brown failed to take opportunities afforded him by the Ministry through two invitations to address all the allegations raised by workers and stakeholders of Seplat Energy PLC against him.

In response to the development, Seplat rapidly issued public statements faulting all petitions and allegations against Mr Brown who had relocated to England and ran the company from London.

Mr Omiyi declared that the allegations against Mr Brown are “spurious, vindictive reaction to the Board’s enforcement of corporate governance standards.” He added that the board of the company has “unanimously passes a vote of confidence in Mr. Brown as the CEO.”

However with an ex-parte Interim Order of the Hon Justice C. J. Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos, restraining him from participating in the running of the Company for a period of 7 days, “Mr. Brown has delegated authority to Mr. Samson Ezugworie, Chief Operating Officer, to act as CEO during the period that he is required to step back from his executive duties.”

The Order allows the Chairman, Mr. Basil Omiyi, and all the INEDs of Seplat Energy to continue running the affairs of the Company on the basis that it is in accordance with Nigerian law.

Mr Omiyi declared in the statement that “the interim orders are premised on allegations of unfair, prejudicial, and offensive acts by the Chairman, CEO and all of the Independent Non-Executive Directors (INEDs) of Seplat Energy.

“The allegations include that the CEO organized a site visit for a number of its major shareholders to the Company’s operations, cancelled some catering and landscaping contracts, and introduced a new job performance rating.

“Seplat Energy refutes the allegations and notes that since Mr. Brown became CEO in 2020, Nigerian nationals have been appointed to the company’s most important positions, including Chairman, Senior Independent Non[1]Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating officer.”

The injunction was filed by Messrs. Moses Igbrude, Sarat Kudaisi, Kenneth Nnabike, Ajani Abidoye and Robert Ibekwe, who are said to have shares in Seplat Energy Plc.

“Seplat will follow the due processes of law in responding to the allegations before the courts. At the same time, the Company will continue to maintain its operational excellence and act in line with the best corporate governance standards,” Mr Basil Omiyi vowed.