Seplat Energy says Roger Brown, its chief executive officer (CEO), has stepped down from his position.

In a statement on Friday, signed by Basil Omiyi, the board chairman of Seplat, the company said the decision followed the court order of a federal high court in Lagos.

On Thursday, TheCable reported that the court had restrained Brown from carrying out his official duties pending the determination of a suit filed against him and other respondents by aggrieved stakeholders of the company over allegations of racism, favouring of expatriate workers, discrimination against Nigerians, and breach of good governance.

The court restrained Brown as well as his proxies, privies, and agents from continuing to participate in the “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”.

In response to the court ruling, Seplat said Brown has delegated his authority to Samson Ezugworie, the chief operating officer of the company.

According to the statement, Ezugworie will continue to act as CEO during the period that Brown is required to step back from his executive duties.

“Seplat Energy Plc reports that on March 9, 2023, it was served with court processes and ex-parte interim order of the honourable Justice C. J. Aneke of the federal high court, Lagos, Nigeria, restraining the chief executive officer, Mr. Roger Brown from participating in the running of the company [for a period of seven days],” the statement reads.

“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 organised 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.”

‘NIGERIANS HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO SEPLAT’S MOST IMPORTANT POSITIONS’

Seplat had on Thursday, described the allegations against Brown as a “spurious and vindictive reaction” to the enforcement of corporate governance standards in the company by its board.

Reiterating its position, the firm refuted the allegations, noting that since Brown became CEO in 2020, Nigerian nationals have been appointed to the “company’s most important positions”.

These positions include chairman, senior independent non-executive director, chief financial officer and chief operating officer, it said.

“The board believes these allegations are a spurious and vindictive reaction to the board’s enforcement of corporate governance standards and a determination to continue to uphold their fiduciary duties and loyalty to the company. The board of Seplat Energy has unanimously passed a vote of confidence in Mr. Brown as the CEO,” Seplat said.

“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. Brown has delegated authority to Mr. Samson Ezugworie, chief operating ffficer, to act as CEO during the period that he is required to step back from his executive duties.

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

“Seplat will follow the due processes of law in responding to the allegations before the courts.”

The company added that it will continue to maintain its operational excellence and act in line with the best corporate governance standards.

Meanwhile, Rauf Aregbesola, minister of interior, had revoked the work permit, visa, and residence permit of Brown following a petition sent to the minister of interior (against Brown) by employees of Seplat.

https://www.thecable.ng/just-in-seplat-ceo-steps-down-over-allegations-of-racism/amp

Previous Thread:
FG Revokes Seplat CEO, Brown’s Visa, Residence, Work Permits Over Alleged Racism
https://www.nairaland.com/7603052/fg-revokes-seplat-ceo-browns

He does not have a choice

Is visa have been revoked

Very good step

Parachoko:
He does not have a choice

Is visa have been revoked

Yes he has choices! He can appeal to a higher court. It's not as if he is guilty already after all.

budaatum:


Yes he has choices! He can appeal to a higher court. It's not as if he is guilty already after all.

Do you know he was invited twice but he failed to show up?

Parachoko:
Do you know he was invited twice and failed to show up?

Invited where? To court? If he was in contempt they would have arrested him. He can still appeal.

budaatum:


Invited where? To court? If he was in contempt they would have arrested him. He can still appeal.

He was invited by the ministry to come and clear the allegations against him, he failed to show up

He should go back to his country.

Parachoko:
He was invited by the ministry to come and clear the allegations against him, he failed to show up

He should go back to his country.

Your sentiment, I suppose. Unfortunately for you, he does not have to do what you want and can have his day in court against the ministry if he wants to.

budaatum:


Your sentiment, I suppose. Unfortunately for you, he does not have to do what you want and can have his day in court against the ministry if he wants to.

Well, he will likely be in his country by this time tomorrow.

He's not bigger than Nigeria.

Parachoko:
Well, he will likely be in his country by this time tomorrow.

He's not bigger than Nigeria.

He likely would, but not because he is not bigger than Nigeria, but because Nigeria might be too small to follow it's own proper legal procedure.

budaatum:


He likely would, ut not because he is not bigger than Nigeria, but because Nigeria might be too small to follow it's own proper legal procedure.

Well, all that matters now is that he will be leaving.

Nigeria is bigger than him, so he does not have a choice but to leave.

Now watch Seplat implode under the leadership of an agbadorian.

They don set the man up so they can loot the company dry.

Parachoko:
Well, all that matters now is that he will be leaving.

Nigeria is bigger than him, so he does not have a choice but to leave.

True talk

First time in history

Noted.

goood

E

budaatum:


Yes he has choices! He can appeal to a higher court. It's not as if he is guilty already after all.

He can't behave like the politicians. If he tries that, Seplat shares will crash both in Naija and London.

2mercy:


https://www.thecable.ng/just-in-seplat-ceo-steps-down-over-allegations-of-racism/amp

Previous Thread:
FG Revokes Seplat CEO, Brown’s Visa, Residence, Work Permits Over Alleged Racism
https://www.nairaland.com/7603052/fg-revokes-seplat-ceo-browns

When will Nigerians emulate this?

Good one

Nice

budaatum:


He likely would, but not because he is not bigger than Nigeria, but because Nigeria might be too small to follow it's own proper legal procedure.

You don't understand what's happening in Seplat.
Roger is just a pawn in the game.

Seplat has been having various legal issues for a while. Both founders are fighting and taking themselves to court.

VeryWickedGoat:
Now watch Seplat implode under the leadership of an agbadorian.

They don set the man up so they can loot the company dry.

The person they appointed is Igbo.

You are the child of a pauper and so, you have no access to even know wealthy Igbos. Umu nkita.

OkoAmarashy:


You don't understand what's happening in Seplat.
Roger is just a pawn in the game.

Seplat has been having various legal issues for a while. Both founders are fighting and taking themselves to court.

I did suspect there'd be more to it than this thread reports.

Parachoko:
Well, he will likely be in his country by this time tomorrow.

He's not bigger than Nigeria.

As if the Nigeria you're boasting of is one great and safe corntree.

He'll likely lose nothing. How about you?

budaatum:

I did suspect there'd be more to it than this thread reports.

Serious matter that went up to the Presidency at a point. Buhari assented to an oil deal and later rescinded assent.
Same fight that scuttled Seplat Mobil oil deal.
Both founders were getting injunctions against each other at a point.

The genesis is that ABC Orjiakor an Igbo man is putting only Igbos in position in Seplat whether qualified or not and Austin Avuru the Confounder from the SS is resisting, insisting on balance.
Orjiakor is picking those loyal to him so that the heists committed while he as at the helm can be kept secret since they're loyal to him.

However, Austin Avuru is from the Niger Delta and has more contacts in the oil industry. He is showing Seplat Hell

We are cleaning up Nigeria little by little, if he is going to stereotype people before he gives them a job in Lagos then he should resign. That a very powerful position to be missed.

OkoAmarashy:


He can't behave like the politicians. If he tries that, Seplat shares will crash both in Naija and London.

Down a mere 2% today. Probably riding the energy wave. We'll see when this plays through..

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/quote/SEPL.L/

Y0urUncle:


As if the Nigeria you're boasting of is one great and safe corntree.

You can also relocate to South Sudan or Chad, is none of my business.

If you like bring another werey to head Una...


Radarada

Pls when does this happens.

That's the right thing to do