Court Restrains Roger Brown From Operating As Seplat CEO Amid Racism Allegation

A Federal High Court in Lagos State presided by Justice Chukwuejekwu Aneke, has ordered Roger Brown to vacate his Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position at Seplat Energy Plc.

This was in response to a motion ex parte filed by applicants and petitioners; Moses Igbrude, Sarat Kudaisi, Kenneth Nnabike, Ajani Abidoye, and Robert Ibekwe. 

They petitioned the court on Wednesday, seeking to relieve Brown of his position over allegations of racism, discrimination against Nigerian workers in Seplat and favouritism for foreign employees. 

In suit no. FHC/L/402/2023, the court ruled that pending the determination of the petition against him, Brown should Brown is barred from “day-to-day running and management of Seplat Energy or in any manner whatsoever pending the determination of [the] hearing and determination of the petitioners’ motion on notice for interlocutory injunction,” Justice Aneke said. 

The Chairman of Seplat, Basil Omiyi, and all the independent non-executive directors of the firm were directed to act according to the laws of Nigeria and not to “run the affairs of Seplat in an illegal, unfair, prejudicial, and oppressive manner pending the hearing and determination of the petitioner’s motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”

Recall that Prime Business Africa reported earlier that the Ministry of Interior wrote to Seplat on 3 March 2023, informing the company that some aggrieved workers made several allegations against Brown.

It was said that Nigerian workers were allegedly discriminated against while favouring foreign staff. The Ministry also revealed that he was in possession of a Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) which was not a valid Expatriate Quota.

The Ministry revealed that Brown’s visa and work permit for Nigeria has been revoked, preventing the Seplat CEO from working in the country.

Seplat said the allegation was false, describing it as orchestrated media reports and “a spurious and vindictive reaction to the enforcement of corporate governance standards in the Company by the Board of Seplat Energy.” 

The company revealed that Brown will operate from its office in the United Kingdom: “On 8th March 2023, the Board of Seplat Energy unanimously passed a vote of confidence in Mr Brown, who continues to discharge his duties and responsibilities as CEO from the SEPLAT UK office.”