Fakoyejo OlalekanThe Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy, Roger Brown, the firm’s Chairman, Basil Omiyi, and six big shots in the oil and gas company have been slammed with a lawsuit by the Federal Government.
Prime Business Africa understands that the lawsuit originates from the withdrawal of the visa, resident permit and work permit previously issued to Brown.
The Ministry of Interior seized these immigration documents from Brown after it uncovered the businessman is working in Nigeria with a Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC).
This was revealed in March, with the Nigerian government stating that it is not based on a valid Expatriate Quota. One month after, the Nigeria Immigration Service has taken legal action against Seplat and its top directors.
In a statement acknowledging the lawsuit on Thursday, 13 April 2023, Seplat said: “Seplat Energy has become aware of a suit filed at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, by the Nigeria Immigration Service (acting for the Federal Government of Nigeria) against the Company and some of its Directors and Officers.
“The suit is in relation to the immigration status of Mr. Roger Brown and the withdrawal of his immigration visa by the Ministry of Interior.”
Also, the court papers showed that the Nigeria Immigration Service filed a four-count charge against Seplat for breaching the Immigration Act of 2015.
Part of the lawsuit reads that Omiyi, company secretary/legal counsel, Edith Onwuchekwa, independent directors; Charles Okeahalam, Fabian Ajogwu, Bashirat Odunewu, Rabiu Bello and Emma Fitzgerald conspired or connived to help Brown get the job of the CEO in Seplat without the approval of the Minister of Interior.
The defendants were also accused of helping Brown flout the immigration law by working for a Nigerian company without the immigration documents after it was withdrawn.
This is the second court case filed against Seplat in two months after some stakeholders in the company accused Brown of racism. A court in Nigeria also temporarily barred him from performing his CEO duties. The restriction was removed almost three months after.
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