Fakoyejo Olalekan
Seplat Energy and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) have settled their dispute as the latter withdraws the lawsuit filed against the oil and gas company.
The Nigeria Immigration Service had sued Seplat Energy for breaching the Immigration Act 2015 after employing its Chief Executive Officer, Roger Brown, without adhering to the provisions of the act.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to the NIS, Brown was employed without the consent of the comptroller-general of the immigration service after the top directors conspired to breach the regulations.
It was also revealed that Brown was not using a valid Expatriate Quota, as he was in possession of a Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC).
The lawsuit, filed with the Federal High Court, was disclosed by Seplat last week, however, on Thursday, the company said the Nigeria Immigration Service has withdrawn the case.
In the statement released by Seplat Energy, the firm said: “it has become aware of the Notice of Withdrawal/Discontinuance of the legal action that was previously instituted 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 Notice of Withdrawal/Discontinuance of the action dated 6 April 2023, was issued by the Director Legal Services of the Nigeria Immigration Service and stated in part that “the Claimant hereby discontinues all the proceedings in this charge against the above-named Defendants”.
Seplat Energy further stated that there’s an ongoing discussion with the Ministry of Interior to settle the work permit, residential permit and visa of Brown after they were seized by the ministry, forcing the CEO to leave Nigeria and operate from the firm’s UK office.
“The Company continues to engage with the Ministry of Interior to bring closure to the false allegations presented to the Ministry as a result of which the residency status of its Chief Executive Officer was withdrawn.
“The Company also refers to its Announcement of 6 April 2023 confirming that the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had vacated the ex parte Interim Orders against Seplat, its CEO and its Board Chairman, including the orders that restrained the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Roger Brown from participating in the running of the Company,” the statement reads.
Seplat CEO Roger Brown
