Nigeria’s leading indigenous energy company, Seplat Energy Plc, announced today that the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, has vacated the ex parte interim orders against Seplat, its CEO and Board Chairman, including the orders that restrained the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Roger Brown, from participating in the running of the Company.
The case has been adjourned to May 16, 2023, to continue the hearing, the company said a notice to stakeholders signed by the Chairman, Basil Omiyi.
It noted that the ex parte Interim Orders were in relation to a court petition filed by five persons who claim to be minority shareholders of the Company, collectively holding 161 units of shares. The Company maintains that the petition lacks proper basis and is premised on false allegations.
“Seplat Energy remains confident that the judicial process will address the circumstances appropriately. The Company continues to engage with the Ministry of Interior.
“This announcement is made further to the Company’s announcement of March 10, 2023 and pursuant to Rule 17.10 of the Rulebook of the Nigerian Exchange, 2015 (Issuer’s Rule).”
On March 10, 2023, The PUNCH reported that the Federal High Court in Lagos restrained Brown from parading himself as the firm’s CEO, pending the determination of a suit filed against him and others by aggrieved stakeholders of the company.
Brown had stepped aside from running the company for a period of seven days in compliance with a court order handed down by the Hon Justice C. J. Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos, Nigeria, which restrained Brown for one week.
The Nigerian government had revoked the Work Permit, Visa and Residence Permit of Brown over allegations of racism.
The revocation was contained in a letter written to the Board Chairman of Seplat Energy Plc by the Minister of Internal Affairs, dated March 3, which was obtained by THISDAY.
Brown, according to the letter, was accused by his workers of favouring foreign workers and discriminating against Nigerian employees.
He was also accused of being in possession of a Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) not based on a valid Expatriate Quota.
According to the report, Brown allegedly failed several times to honour invitations by the ministry’s panel, which investigated the matter.
Titled, “Withdrawal of Work Permit, CERPAC, Visa/Residence Permit of Mr. Roger Thompson Brown – CEO, SEPLAT Energy Plc,” the letter reads: “I write to inform you that the Ministry is in receipt of a petition from the Solicitor to the concerned workers and stakeholders of Seplat Energy PLC accusing Mr. Rogers Thomson Brown, the CEO of the companies of various allegations.
“These accusations include racism, favouring foreign workers and discriminating against Nigerian employees. Testimony was received from several witnesses, which supported the allegations. Mr. Roger T. Brown declined to attend despite two invitations, claiming to be unavailable even though we learnt he was in Abuja for other purposes at the time.”
