By John Ikani
Seplat Energy Plc has announced that its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Roger Brown, has temporarily stepped aside for a period of seven days following an ex-parte Interim Order by the Hon Justice C. J. Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos, Nigeria.
The company disclosed this in a statement released on Friday and signed by its Board Chairman, Mr Basil Omiyi.
According to the statement, the order restrains Brown from participating in the running of the company for the stated period of time.
The interim orders are based on allegations of racist, unfair, prejudicial, and offensive acts by the Chairman, CEO, and all the INEDs of Seplat Energy.
The injunction was filed by Mr Moses Igbrude, Sarat Kudaisi, Kenneth Nnabike, Ajani Abidoye, and Robert Ibekwe, who claim to have shares in Seplat Energy Plc.
The allegations include that Brown organized a site visit for some major shareholders of the company’s operations, cancelled some catering and landscaping contracts, and introduced a new job performance rating.
However, Seplat Energy refuted the allegations, noting that “Nigerian nationals have been appointed to the company’s most important positions since Brown became CEO in 2020, including Chairman, Senior Independent Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operating Officer.”
The statement notes that the “Chairman and all the INEDs of Seplat Energy will continue running the affairs of the company on the basis that it is in accordance with Nigerian law.”
It added that “Brown has delegated authority to Mr Samson Ezugworie, Chief Operating Officer, to act as CEO during the period that he is required to step back from his executive duties.”
The company “assured that it will follow the due processes of law in responding to the allegations before the courts, adding that it will maintain its operational excellence and act in line with the best corporate governance standards.”
